Development Theories and Underdevelopment


  • Development is a term which lacks a clear definition.
  • According to Lucian Pye, political and economic development are linked.
  • The liberal theory of development is also known as the classical theory of development.
  • Karl Marx’s name is not associated with the liberal theory of development.
  • Lucian Pye argued that political development cannot be measured with industrialization.
  • Classical thinkers did not use education as a measuring yard for development.
  • According to the liberal theory of development, the origin of all value was land.
  • The level of wages could not be changed by labor unions, according to classical thinkers.
  • Political development cannot be measured in terms of political modernization due to its unsuitability to third world countries.
  • Edward A. Shills believed political development should be linked with the standards of modernization of a state.
  • Max Weber linked political development with administrative development.
  • Talcott Parsons believed political development should be measured in terms of legal development.
  • Max Weber stressed the role of bureaucracy in measuring political development.
  • Adam Smith stressed the idea of division of labor in his views about development.
  • Ricardo built his theory of development around wages.
  • Ricardo’s theory of rent indicated that rent increased when low-quality land was used.
  • Malthus built his theory of development around population.
  • Karl Deutsch believed that political development should be linked with political stability.
  • Political stability in political development is linked with Karl Deutsch’s name.
  • W. Riggs laid stress on political stability in his theory of political development.
  • Malthus’s theory stated that population tends to come down when wages increase.
  • High wages, according to Malthus, promote fast growth of population.
  • Ricardo believed that the rise of wages presupposes higher rents.
  • A. Almond believed political development should be linked with the level of absolute power.
  • S. Colesman linked political development with the level of absolute power in the international field.
  • Classical theorists underestimated technological progress, according to valid criticism.
  • F. Milikan believed political development should be linked with other developments combined.
  • Karl Marx’s ideas about development theory are found in “Capital: A Critique of Political Economy.”
  • Marx explained his theory of development with the help of the theory of surplus value.
  • Capital accumulation according to Marx depended on surplus valuation.
  • Myron Weiner believed political development should be measured in terms of national respect in the international field.
  • S. Coleman believed political development should be linked with political development in the international field.
  • According to Karl Marx, surplus value cannot be earned by eliminating workers from the market.
  • Technological development was the most dependable method for capital accumulation, according to Marx.
  • Marx emphasized technological advancement in economic development.
  • Lucian Pye’s definition of development does not include differentiation.
  • Extent of political participation is the most important thing in finding out political development according to Lucian Pye.
  • Lucian Pye did not include the method of paying wages to workers in his theory of development.
  • Marxian theory rightly pointed out the effects of technological unemployment.
  • Neo-classical thinkers believed that the existing social order should be preserved for development.
  • Neo-classical thinkers laid stress on the rate of interest in their development theory.
  • Neo-classical thinkers did not believe in development as a gradual process.
  • Political development includes definitional priorities, according to Nettle.
  • The criticism that fails to appreciate the importance of the attitude of people in development processes is incorrect.
  • The interdisciplinary approach is used to properly study political development according to Nettle.
  • The entrepreneur theory about development is associated with Joseph Schumpeter.
  • The growth of social products in the theory of development is linked to the division of labor, according to Adam Smith.
  • In his theory about development, Schumpeter was influenced by the neo-classical thinkers.
  • Schumpeter laid maximum stress on entrepreneurship in his theory of development.
  • Leadership is emphasized in Schumpeter’s theory of development.
  • Jacob Viner associated the theory of development with per capita income.
  • Jacob Viner stated that the developed countries were never underdeveloped.
  • Capitalism benefits from the underdevelopment of periphery countries.
  • Radical structuralists saw a close relationship between underdevelopment and expansion of capitalism.
  • Marx believed that the spread of capitalism throughout the world led to development.
  • Underdevelopment refers to the condition where there is potential for more capital, labor, and available natural resources.
  • Periphery countries are dependent on the center for manufactured goods.
  • Radical structuralists, like A.C. Frank, saw a close relationship between underdevelopment and the expansion of capitalism.
  • Marx did not pay attention to the issue of underdevelopment in his writings.
  • The spread of capitalism throughout the world led to development, according to Marx.
  • The export of capital tends to arrest development in underdeveloped areas, as per the theory of underdevelopment.
  • The theory of imperialism and underdevelopment highlights the exploitation of periphery countries by the center.
  • Dependency theory emphasizes the structural causes of underdevelopment in relation to the global economic system.
  • According to dependency theory, underdevelopment is a result of the unequal relationship between core and periphery nations.
  • Modernization theory suggests that underdeveloped societies can progress by adopting the practices of advanced nations.
  • The “stages of economic growth” theory suggests that societies evolve through various stages of development.
  • Rostow’s stages of economic growth theory proposes that development occurs in a series of stages, including traditional society and the age of high mass consumption.
  • According to Rostow, the drive to maturity is a critical phase for development characterized by rapid economic growth.
  • The concept of “developmentalism” involves state intervention to promote economic growth and development.
  • Import substitution and export-led growth are strategies associated with the theory of developmentalism.
  • The Harrod-Domar model suggests that economic growth depends on the level of investment.
  • The Lewis dual-sector model explains development by the transition of surplus labor from agriculture to the industrial sector.
  • According to the Lewis model, the industrial sector acts as the “unlimited supply of labor” sector in the economy.
  • The Solow-Swan model emphasizes technological progress as a key driver of economic growth.
  • Human capital theory suggests that investments in education and healthcare contribute to economic development.
  • The theory of demographic transition explains the relationship between population growth and development.
  • The “capabilities approach” by Amartya Sen focuses on the importance of enhancing individuals’ freedoms and opportunities as a measure of development.
  • The Human Development Index (HDI) combines indicators of life expectancy, education, and per capita income to measure development.
  • The Gender Inequality Index (GII) measures gender-based inequalities and their impact on development.
  • The theory of sustainable development emphasizes meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
  • The “tragedy of the commons” concept highlights the overexploitation of shared resources when they’re not regulated.
  • Coase’s theorem suggests that with well-defined property rights and low transaction costs, private bargaining can resolve externalities.
  • The Elinor Ostrom’s approach emphasizes that common-pool resources can be effectively managed through local community institutions.
  • The “Green Revolution” involved the introduction of high-yielding crop varieties and modern agricultural techniques.
  • Import substitution industrialization aims to reduce dependence on imported goods by promoting domestic industrial production.
  • Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) are economic policies often imposed by international financial institutions to improve economic stability.
  • Microfinance provides financial services, including small loans, to low-income individuals and communities.
  • The “Big Push” theory suggests that economies stuck in poverty need coordinated government intervention to break the cycle.
  • The “Dual Economy” model explains the coexistence of traditional and modern sectors in developing economies.
  • The Gini coefficient is used to measure income inequality within a population.
  • The “Kuznets curve” hypothesis posits that income inequality first increases and then decreases as an economy develops.
  • The concept of “land reform” addresses the unequal distribution of land ownership and its effects on development.
  • The Import-Export Model suggests that a country’s development depends on its ability to balance industrial production for export and consumer goods for domestic consumption.
  • The concept of “deindustrialization” refers to the decline of the industrial sector in a country’s economy.
  • The “New International Economic Order” was a set of proposals to promote fair treatment of developing countries in the global economy.
  • “Dollarization” refers to the use of a foreign currency (like the US dollar) alongside or instead of the domestic currency.
  • The “brain drain” phenomenon refers to the emigration of skilled and educated individuals from developing to developed countries.
  • “Urbanization” is the process of population movement from rural to urban areas, often linked to industrialization and modernization.
  • The “One Child Policy” was implemented in China to control population growth, but has been replaced by a two-child policy.
  • “Globalization” refers to the increasing interconnectedness of economies, cultures, and societies on a global scale.
  • “Sustainable development” aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
  • The “HDI (Human Development Index)” combines indicators of life expectancy, education, and per capita income to measure a country’s development.
  • “Remittances” are funds sent by migrants back to their home countries, often a significant source of income for developing nations.
  • “Cultural imperialism” refers to the dominance of one culture over others, often as a result of globalization and media influence.
  • The “dependency theory” suggests that the underdevelopment of some nations is a result of their economic dependence on more developed countries.
  • “Neocolonialism” refers to indirect forms of imperialism, where economic and political influence is exerted over a country without direct control.
  • The “World Systems Theory” categorizes countries as core, periphery, or semi-periphery within the global economic system.
  • “Modernization theory” proposes that societies go through linear stages of development, becoming more advanced over time.
  • The “Great Divergence” refers to the period when Western European economies began to surpass the rest of the world, leading to global inequality.
  • “Feminization of labor” describes the increasing participation of women in the workforce, often in low-paying and vulnerable jobs.
  • The “Lewis model” explains the transition from a traditional agricultural economy to an industrialized urban economy.
  • “Hyperglobalization” refers to an extreme level of globalization with increased interconnectedness and interdependence.
  • The “informal economy” includes unregulated economic activities that are not protected by the law, such as street vendors and informal labor.
  • “Development ethics” explores the moral and ethical dimensions of development policies and their impact on human well-being.
  • “Ecotourism” promotes responsible travel to natural areas, aiming to support conservation efforts and benefit local communities.
  • “Social entrepreneurship” involves using business strategies to address social and environmental challenges.
  • The “leapfrogging” concept suggests that developing countries can skip certain stages of development by adopting advanced technologies.
  • “Food security” is achieved when all people have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.
  • The “Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)” were eight international development goals aimed at improving various aspects of human well-being.
  • “Post-development theory” critiques the Western-centric idea of development and seeks alternative paths to improve human life and well-being.

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