Development

Chapter # 1, Economics, Class X

Different persons can have different developmental goals

Landless Rural labourers - More days of work and better wages; local school is able to provide quality education for their children; there is no social discrimination and they too can become leaders in the village.
Prosperous framers from Punjab - Assured a high family income through higher support prices for their crops and through hardworking and cheap laboureres; they should be able to settle their children abroad.

    For development people look at a mix goals

    Besides seeking more income, one-way or the other, people also seek things like equal treatment, freedom, security and respect of others. They resent discrimination. All these are important goals.
    Example-
    (a) If you get a job in a far off place, before accepting it you would try to consider many factors, apart from  income, such as facilities for your family, working atmosphere, or opportunity to learn.
    (b) If there is respect for women there would be more sharing of housework and a greater acceptance of women working outside. A safe and secure environment may allow more women to take up a variety of jobs or run a business.

    How to compare different countries or states development ?

    For comparing countries, their income is considered to be one of the most important attributes. But total income is not such an useful measure. Countries have different populations, comparing total income will not tell us what an average person is likely to earn.
    According to World Development Report - 2006
    Countries with per capita income of Rs. 453000 per annum and above in 2004 are called rich countries and those with per capita income of Rs 37000 or less are called low income countries. India’s per capita income in 2004 was just Rs 28000 annum.

    Income and other criteria

    When we study the Table 1.3 and Table 1.4 we come to know that though Punjab is leading the table 1.3 because it has highest per capita income among the three countries, but when we compare the same three States on the basis of development we come to know that Kerala leads the table. Bihar in both the table stands on the last position. The comparison of the two table gives us the conclusion that Income is not the only criteria for development, but is one of the most important attribute for development.

    Public Facilities

    Money in your pocket cannot buy all the goods and services that you may need to live well.
    Money cannot buy you a pollution-free environment or ensure that you get unadulterated medicines. Money may also not be able to protect you from infectious diseases, unless the whole of your community takes preventive steps.

    Human Development Report

    Published by UNDP compares countries based on the educational levels of the people, their health status and per capita income. By pre-fixing Human to Development, it has made it very clear that what is important in development is what is happening to citizens of a country.

    Sustainability of Development

    It means that development in future should continue in the same pace in which it is running now. But its not that easy. As most of the resources are non-renewable, in future when these resources will get exhausted, it will affect the pace of development. Same way resources which are renewable, if they get polluted they would be of not use in future. For Sustainable development we would have to ensure better technology which will ensure best use of resources. Use of substitute goods will ensure the availability of non-renewable resources for long time.