Development » Global Development Patterns

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

How to define development and the different ways it can be measured
The global pattern of development and its key characteristics
Differences between Low Income Countries (LICs), Middle Income Countries (MICs) and High Income Countries (HICs)
The Demographic Transition Model and its relationship to development
Key development indicators and how they are used
Case studies of countries at different stages of development

Introduction to Global Development Patterns

Development refers to how economically, socially and technologically advanced a country is. Around the world, countries are at different stages of development, creating a pattern that we can study and understand. This pattern isn't random - it's shaped by history, geography, politics and many other factors.

Key Definitions:

Development: The process of growth and change that improves people's quality of life and a country's economic prosperity.
Development gap: The difference in standards of living and wellbeing between the world's richest and poorest countries.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The total value of goods and services produced by a country in a year.
Human Development Index (HDI): A measure that combines life expectancy, education and income to rank countries.

📈 Economic Indicators

These measure the economic performance of a country:

GDP per capita (total GDP ÷ population)
GNI (Gross National Income)
Economic growth rate
Unemployment rate
Income distribution

🎓 Social Indicators

These measure quality of life and wellbeing:

Life expectancy
Literacy rate
Access to clean water
Infant mortality rate
Access to healthcare

Classifying Countries by Development

The World Bank classifies countries into four main groups based on their Gross National Income (GNI) per capita:

🇮 Low Income Countries (LICs)

GNI per capita of $1,085 or less

Examples: Niger, Somalia, Afghanistan

Characteristics: High birth rates, low life expectancy, limited access to education and healthcare

🇯 Middle Income Countries (MICs)

GNI per capita between $1,086 and $13,205

Examples: India, Brazil, China

Characteristics: Growing industries, improving infrastructure, expanding middle class

🇺 High Income Countries (HICs)

GNI per capita of $13,205 or more

Examples: UK, USA, Japan

Characteristics: Advanced economies, high standard of living, good healthcare and education

Global Development Patterns

If we look at a world map showing development levels, we can see clear patterns:

North-South Divide: Generally, countries in the Northern Hemisphere (especially North America, Europe and parts of East Asia) are more developed than those in the Southern Hemisphere.
Colonial History: Many former colonies, especially in Africa, remain less developed than their former colonial rulers.
Landlocked Countries: Countries without access to the sea often face development challenges due to trade limitations.
Resource Availability: Some countries with abundant natural resources have developed faster, though this isn't always the case (the "resource curse").

Case Study Focus: Comparing Development

UK (HIC) vs. Kenya (MIC) vs. Niger (LIC)

Indicator	UK	Kenya	Niger
GDP per capita (USD)	42,300	1,816	553
Life expectancy	81 years	66 years	62 years
Literacy rate	99%	82%	19%
Infant mortality (per 1000)	4	31	48

The Demographic Transition Model and Development

The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) shows how a country's population changes as it develops. It has five stages:

📊 DTM Stages

Stage 1: High birth rates, high death rates, low population growth (pre-industrial)

Stage 2: High birth rates, falling death rates, rapid population growth (developing)

Stage 3: Falling birth rates, low death rates, slowing population growth (industrialising)

Stage 4: Low birth rates, low death rates, stable population (developed)

Stage 5: Low birth rates, rising death rates due to ageing population, possible population decline (post-industrial)

🌎 Countries at Different Stages

Stage 1: No countries remain in this stage

Stage 2: Niger, Mali, Somalia

Stage 3: India, Brazil, Mexico

Stage 4: UK, USA, Australia

Stage 5: Japan, Italy, Germany

Measuring Development: Beyond GDP

While economic indicators like GDP are important, they don't tell the whole story about development. That's why composite indicators that combine multiple factors have been created:

💯 Human Development Index (HDI)

Combines life expectancy, education and income

Scale: 0-1 (higher is better)

Norway: 0.957 (highest)

Niger: 0.394 (among lowest)

📖 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

Measures deprivations in health, education and living standards

Identifies who is poor and how they are poor

Covers 10 indicators across 3 dimensions

😊 Happy Planet Index (HPI)

Measures wellbeing, life expectancy, inequality and ecological footprint

Focuses on sustainable wellbeing

Costa Rica often ranks highly despite not being the richest

Case Study: China's Development Journey

China has experienced one of the most dramatic development transformations in history:

1980s: GDP per capita was around $200, with 88% of people living in extreme poverty
Economic Reforms: Market-oriented reforms, opening to foreign investment and export-led growth
Rapid Urbanisation: Hundreds of millions moved from rural areas to cities for factory jobs
Today: GDP per capita over $10,000, less than 1% in extreme poverty
Challenges: Income inequality, environmental degradation, ageing population

China demonstrates how development isn't just about economic growth but also comes with social and environmental challenges.

Changing Global Development Patterns

The global development landscape is constantly changing:

Rise of Emerging Economies: Countries like China, India and Brazil have seen rapid development, shifting global economic power.
Uneven Development: Even within countries, development is often uneven, with urban areas typically more developed than rural regions.
Technology Leapfrogging: Some developing countries are skipping stages of technology (e.g., going straight to mobile phones without landlines).
Sustainable Development Goals: The UN's 17 goals aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all by 2030.

Key Exam Tips

When answering questions on global development patterns:

Always use specific examples and case studies to support your points
Compare and contrast different indicators of development
Explain the causes and consequences of development patterns
Consider both economic and social aspects of development
Think about how development patterns might change in the future

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!