economic growth vs

8/18/2019 Economic Growth Vs

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Developmental Theorists

Economic development was first introduced in 1887 by Karl Marx who mentioned the

concept in his book !apital"# $e stated that development is a process throu%h which societies

move and chan%e# &ince then' many theorists have attempted to define economic development#

This essay will examine three of these theorists namely' Dudley &eers' (erald Meier and

)martya &en in the hope of hi%hli%htin% how relevant these theorists are in the developmental

process of the !aribbean countries *Economic (rowth vs# Economic Development' +,1-.#

Meier"s postulated that economic development is the process whereby the real per capita

income of a country increases over an extended period of time and cannot be measured usin% the

short term rise and falls of normal economic activity# /evertheless' for development to take place

the number of people livin% below the absolute poverty lines should not increase and the

distribution of income should not become more unevenly distributed *Economic (rowth vs#

Economic Development' +,1-.# 0undamentally' for economic development to take place the

followin% processes should be observed a nation should seek to reduce the number of persons

livin% below the absolute poverty line and ensure that income is e2ually distributed amon% the

population decrease the level of unemployment that the society can endure a reduction in

economic and re%ional diversification increased life expectancy of the population reduce infant

mortality rate and improve basic literacy# )ll this has to be achieved before economic

development of the country can be reali3ed *Economic (rowth vs# Economic Development'

+,1-.

Dudley &eers on the other hand' contends that the use of national income or per capita

income as a measurement of economic development is inade2uate and even 2uestionable# $e

http://www.economicspapers.net/economic-growth-vs-economic-development.htmlhttp://www.economicspapers.net/economic-growth-vs-economic-development.html


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emphasi3ed the importance of social development before movin% to economic development

notin% that in order for economic development to reach its full potential social development has

to occur first# &eers stated that the purpose of development is to reduce poverty' ine2uality' and

unemployment *The !oncept of Development )ccordin% to Dudley &eers' +,1-.#

$e further went on to outline what he believed to be the three primary indicators of

economic development# 0irstly' he ar%ued that an ade2uate income is necessary to ensure that a

person"s basic needs for food are met# &econdly' the provision of 4obs' which in his view'

promotes individual independence and self5respect# 0inally' he believed ine2uality must be

addressed if development is to take place *Economic (rowth vs# Economic Development' +,1-.#

6ther %oals identified in &eers" observations of economic development includes

ade2uate education and literacy levels' %ood health' and social freedoms# *Economic (rowth vs#

Economic Development' +,1-.#

n contrary to the other theorists' &en believed that the success of a society is to be

evaluated primarily by the freedoms that members of the society en4oy# 0reedom is both the

primary end and the principal means of development# &en mentioned five distinct freedoms

political freedoms' economic facilities' social opportunities' transparency %uarantees' and

protective security# 0reedom' he says' is a principle determinant of individual initiative and social

effectiveness *Maboloc' +,,8.#

&en further pointed out that welfare economics evaluates human well5bein% throu%h

indices such as the (ross /ational 9roduct' the (ross Domestic 9roduct' and per capita income#

$e reiterated the findin%s of &eers where he believed to have addressed the problem of poverty#


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!onse2uently' he defined poverty as the deprivation of basic capabilities' always defined as

individual capabilities *Maboloc' +,,8.#

$avin% outlined their theories' it is imperative to note that &eers' Meier"s and &en"s

economic development theories are inte%ral to the development of the !aribbean economy#

:et us take a look at ;amaica for example it has seen its fair share of economic

challen%es' however' ;amaica still mana%es to maintain a reasonable level of development# There

is still much work to be done but the country strives to improve its status throu%h %rowth and

pro%ressive economic development# &till' to achieve such %rowth' economist could consult

Meier"s" developmental theory which addresses the reduction of persons livin% below the

absolute poverty line and the evenly distribution of income amon% the entire population#

)ccordin% to (oldin% *+,1,.' the level of poverty in ;amaica rose to 1# There is poverty everywhere on the island' but the rural areas and the inner city areas

account for the lar%est number of persons livin% in poverty# /o surprise the inner cities are

recordin% the hi%hest crime rates ri%ht *(oldin%' +,1,.#

6ther factors that influenced the poverty levels in ;amaica are $i%h unemployment'

limited access to ade2uate health services' limited access to educational facilities and limited

access to infrastructure and basic services#

n relation to &ens theory' the ?arbados"s economy has a freedom score of


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development# The (overnment of ?arbados pays the cost of education for ?arbadian students at

primary' secondary and tertiary level *?arbados education' +,1-.#

n contrast' !uba"s economic freedom score is +@#


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References

Barbados education. *+,1-.# etrieved ;uly -' +,1-' from

httpAAwww#barbados#or%Aeducate#htm#FGt%>7D$5M8

!larke' :# *1@@8.# Education in Cuba. etrieved ;uly >' +,1-' from

httpAAwww#tulane#eduAHrouxbeeAkids@8Acuba>#html

Economic Growth vs. Economic Development. *+,1-.# etrieved ;uly -' +,1-' from

9aperwritin%s#com httpAAwww#economicspapers#netAeconomic5%rowth5vs5economic5

development#html

(arfield' # I# *1@@7.# The impact of the economic crisis and the US embargo on health care in

Cuba. etrieved ;uly 7' +,1-' from httpAAwww#tulane#eduAHrouxbeeAkids@8AcubaJ#html

(oldin%' ?# *+,1,.# Poverty crisis in amaica. etrieved ;uly AleadAlead1#html

Maboloc' !# # *+,,8.# The Concept of !uman Development. etrieved ;uly >' +,1-' from

httpAAwww#diva5portal#or%AsmashA%etAdiva+18J-8A0B::TET,1#pdf

9ettin%er' T# *+,11.# Difference between Economic Growth and Development. etrieved ;uly J'

+,1-' from httpAAwww#economicshelp#or%Ablo%A1187AdevelopmentAeconomic5%rowth5

and5developmentA

The Concept of Development "ccording to Dudley Seers. *+,1-.# etrieved ;uly The=+,!oncept=+,of

=+,Development=+,)ccordin%=+,to=+,Dudley=+,&eers#pdf

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