Frameworks for development

Factors that affect development

Factors that affect development

Resources

Cultural and social

factors

Political factors

Environmental

degradation

1. Resources

This refers to

anything that people

can use to improve

their living conditions.

Three things in common with resources: usefulness limitations to their accessibility change in form or depletion when usedResources can be categorised as ubiquitous (found everywhere) and localised. Land, water, air and people are found everywhere

(ubiquitous) Minerals and fossil fuels are found in certain areas

only (localised).

Renewable resources - A resource that can be used over and over again without being used up e.g. wind power, paper, glass, metal, plastic etc.Non-renewable resources – A resource that takes a very long time to form and cannot be replaced as fast as it is used up, e.g. coal, natural gas, petroleum etc.

Renewable and Non-renewable

For the economy to develop and flourish we need resources.

Natural resources such as fertile soil, fresh water and a favourable climate are not equally distributed over Earth's surface.

Location and climate of a country is important.

Developed countries need more resources than developing countries.

1.1 Access to resources

A country needs infrastructure, capital and skilled people to process resources so they cannot export more raw materials and import finished products.

Large populations put pressure on natural resources.

As resources become scarcer, there is greater competition for control of reserves.

1.2. Natural resources limitations

Energy is the power supply or source. To develop a modern economy we need

energy resources. For example, we cannot run a factory without electricity. Oil is the most widely used energy source in

the modern economy.

1.3 Access to energy resources

Most LEDCs use biomass for energy, this energy resource slows down development.

MEDCs use fossil fuels for energy production this results in MEDCs contributing to the world’s rising levels.

Higher energy costs will increase production costs and make the country unattractive for investors.

2.1 Education and training Access to education and training will determine

whether a country is referred to as traditional or modern.

Levels of education influences innovation, the appropriate use of existing technology as well as creation of new technology.

High illiteracy rates hamper educational progress in a country

2. Cultural and social factors

2.2 Population growth One of the biggest problems hindering job creation

and socio-economic development in LEDCs is the high population growth rate.

In majority of the LEDCs over 50% of the population is under 20 years of age.

High population growth rate is usually linked to very rapid rural-urban migration.

High population growth rate might be attractive to developers as it creates a larger market for produce.

3.1. Balance of trade Balance of trade refers to the balance

between the economic value of exports and imports.

Surplus refers to when the value of money from exports is greater than money paid out for imports.

Deficit is when the value of money from exports is less than money paid out for imports.

3. Political factors

International trade is not always fair towards poorer countries.

Reasons for trade imbalances: Random spread for resources, including

capital and human skills Exploitation practiced during colonialism. Lack of infrastructure and education in

poorer countries. The number of trading partners and the

items traded has a direct impact on development

3.2. History The history of a country impacts on its

development levels. Factors such as colonisation, migration and

wars affect levels of development.

The colonial powers extracted precious raw materials from their colonies, took these back to their mother country, developed their industries, and exported the final products back to the colony.

This process took away the ability of the colony to develop its own economy.

The population relies on natural resources for their basic needs.

Poor countries suffer from lack of access to clean affordable energy services.

Air pollution, erosion and other forms of damage the environment can have devastating impact on the economy.

4. Environmental degradation