What Development Promises –
Different Peoples, Different Goals:
● Developmental goals vary from person to person.
● It's not just about personal growth but also about a country's progress.
● Development includes economic growth and basic needs like education and
healthcare.
● The aim is to adapt to the changing times.
● For instance, building a dam for electricity generation may benefit society but
harm Tribal people,farmers and local residents.
National Development
● National development refers to the overall progress and improvement of a
country in various aspects, including economic, social, and political domains.
● It encompasses the enhancement of living standards, infrastructure, and
institutional capacity, among other factors.
Comparing the development Different Countries or States
● We cannot use only the total income to compare different countries as it
can be misleading due to different populations.
● Per capita income, which is the average income per person, is a more
accurate measure for comparison.
● World Development Reports often use per capita income to classify
countries into different categories based on their level of development.
● To compare development we have to look into other factors along with the
Total Income. Besides income, access to public facilities like healthcare,
education, infrastructure, and sanitation is crucial for measuring
development.
● These public facilities contribute significantly to the overall well-being
and quality of life of citizens.
Sustainability of Development
● Sustainability of development refers to the ability to meet the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs.
● It involves balancing economic, social, and environmental considerations to
ensure long-term well-being and prosperity.
Distinguish between World Bank and HDI (notes in Class)
Q: Why is the total income of countries not used to make comparisons
between them? (2012)
Answer:
● The total income of countries is not used to make comparisons between them,
because the population of different countries is different and it does not
give a clear answer if comparisons are made on this basis.
Q: Why is per capita income of different countries calculated in dollars and not
in their own currencies by the World Bank? (Board Question)
Answer:
● Per capita income of different countries is calculated in dollars and not in their
own currencies because the dollar has been the strongest and stablest
currency since the end of the 2nd World War
● It becomes easy to compare the per capita incomes of various countries
when these are converted into a common currency, i.e., US dollar ($).
Q: “What may be development for one may not be development for the other.”
Explain with a suitable example. (Board Question)
Answer:
● Different persons have different notions of development because life
situations of persons are different.
● For example, Construction of dams leads to generation of hydroelectricity,
thus development.
● However many people have to be displaced from their villages, hence it may
not be development for them.
Q: What is per capita income? Mention any two limitations of per capita
income as an indicator of development. (2012)
Answer:
● The total income of a country divided by its total population gives the Per
Capita Income.
● Money cannot buy all the goods and services that are needed to live well.
● So income by itself is not a completely adequate indicator of material goods
and services that citizens are able to use.
● For example, money can not buy a pollution-free environment or ensure
that one gets unadulterated medicines, unless one can afford to shift to a
community that already has all these things.
Q: Conflicting goals can also be developmental goals’. Elaborate with
examples. (2014)
Answer:
● All persons do not have the same notion of development or progress.
● Each one of them seeks different things.
● They seek things that are most important for them, which can fulfil their
aspirations or desires.
● In fact at times two persons or groups of persons may seek things which are
conflicting.
● A girl expects as much freedom and opportunity as her brother and that
he also shares in the household work. Her brother may not like this.
● To get more electricity, industrialists may want more dams.
● But this may submerge the land and disrupt the lives of people who are
displaced, such as tribals.
● They might resent this and may prefer small check dams or tanks to irrigate
their land.
Q: Money cannot buy all the goods and services that one needs to live well”
Do you agree with this statement? Justify your answer with any three suitable
arguments. (2015)
Answer:
Yes, I agree with the statement because money income and material goods
alone are not an adequate indicator of a good quality of life. Money cannot buy all
the goods and services one needs to live well.
● Money cannot buy a pollution free and dean environment with fresh air.
● It cannot protect us from infectious diseases and guarantee good health
for us.
● Money cannot assure that medicines available in the market are not
adulterated.
To live well one needs non-material factors such as equal treatment,
freedom, security, equal opportunity to learn, a pollution free
environment, good and safe working conditions etc.