Monday, November 27, 2006

What makes a country developed?

OK, another online activity, this time for s4, but bear in mind this is Higher's next topic. I have been flicking back through an old Developments magazine, a freebie that the dept for International Development send me now and again, and have come up with this:-

Country A

A vast country, this nation is extremely rich in natural resources such as diamonds, cassiterite(for tin) and gold. It also has large areas of fertile agricultural land and borders several countries which could possibly be trade partners. From 1960, the country received 30 years of intensive investment from abroad, and the country and capital have hosted some high profile international events. Recently, nurses and teachers have been on strike in this location, and there have been riots in the capital city. The currency is also losing value.

Country B

This country has experienced nearly half a century of dicatorship, a decade of conflict, and before that was a colony of a small European country. It has courted controversy for its indifference to Human rights abuses in a neighbouring country. Here is the location of some of the world's most extensive rainforest, but people earn the equivalent of 27 cents per day, and 1000 people a day die of hunger. Hopes are high for the future after plans for a $50 billion Hydro-electric project were unveiled

Here is your task
a) Which is the most developed country and why?
b) Bonus marks if you can guess the country in the examples

Use the evidence, but also look for anything which doesn' quite fit about both examples...

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

g testing

Anonymous said...

Country A is more developed because it has received intense investement and its capital city has hosted some esteemed events. Country B seems less developed as i has just escaped a dictatorship and 10 years of conflict. Its people earn a very small wage and a large amount of people die as a result of hunger. It was also a colony in the past, meaning it is more likely to be underdeveloped.

Anonymous said...

Country A is more developed as it has very good resource materials and has technology in which to make use of the materials. Country B seems less develpoed as many people die of hunger and in devepoled countries pepole have plenty of food.THey also have a very low wage which is in contrast to deveploed countries wages.

Kenny O'Donnell said...

just realising I forgot to give you numbers...Do the two examples have anything in common? Thanks for posting

Anonymous said...

I think both countries are still developing or if country A is developed it has only recently been developed. Even though country A is rich in natural resources, which suggests it has developed, it has received a lot of investment and been allocated high profile events which suggest a country that has needed help. However, it is more developed because there is no hunger problems and there have been many other problems such as dictatorship and conflict. It was also held as a colony. These all point to a less developed country - and that is what country B is. Country A is China and Country B is Angola.

Anonymous said...

Country A is more developed than country B beacuase, as well as being rich in natural reasources it is also in a good location to trade them with other countries. However, although country A seems more developed than country B it might be in debt to the richer countries who it borrowed money from which could stop it from earning as much money as possible from farming and the natural resources that it has.`
Country B might be Turkey.

Anonymous said...

Both countries A and B could be developing, however B seems less developed as it has a large number of it's poulation dying of hunger and earning very low wages which suggests that the country itself is poor. Also, its indiference to human rights suggests that it is not as developed culturally, possibly because there isn't the educational resources of a developed country.

Anonymous said...

Country A is more developed bacause it is rich in natural resources and its location is very useful to trade. Furthermore, country A has received investments and they have hosted some high profile international events which means they have had help. Therefore country B is less developed because people earn a lot less money and a vast amount of people die from hunger. It also has dealt with conflict and dicatorship which clearly points to a less developed country.

Anonymous said...

Country A is more developed because it has people striking about the pay in the service industry, this suggests that it must be an important job sector. Developed countrys have more people in the service industrys.

Anonymous said...

I think that Country A appears to be more developed. This is not neccesarily because it seems like a very developed country but more due to the fact that Country B definitely appears to be an ELDC. The very low income of some people in Country B and the huge number of people dying of hunger are the main factors that prove it is developing but also the fact that it used to be a colony points to it being an ELDC. The dictatorship and conflict also suggest that it has an unstable government. Country A appears to be more developed because it has access to vast amounts of expensive natural resources and a fertile landscape which can contribute to a thriving economy. Also, because it has hosted international events it must be seen as a safe and profitable venue in the eyes of worldwide orginastions who have chosen it in preference to other countries.
Country A could be China
Country B could be Cuba

Anonymous said...

Country A (possibly China?) is more developed than Country B (possibly Uganda?. Country A has resources which will mean that the country will be able to trade their goods in exchange for other materials. Despite recent riots it has hosted international events and the country is on its way to becoming a EMDC. Country B is less developed. This country hs suffered from war and has still to deal with basic needs such as providing food for the people.

Kenny O'Donnell said...

OK, I told you today that this is actually the same country for both examples-DR Congo. I am pleased with some of your reasoning for saying which was the most developed. The exercise should also show how difficult it can be to say whether a country is developed or not using only selected indicators. My next question is this-What is DR Congo's main priority for development? (In other words, what would be the most important thing to address from the examples and why?)

Anonymous said...

The countries main priority is a hydro electric project which will cost over $50 billion. This is to provide the country with a good source of electricity. However, they could end up with a lot of debt if they go ahead with the project. This will slow down the countries development.

Anonymous said...

I think the main aim for development is that the country increases the government services provided and improves the quality of them. Hospitals and schools should be a main target and also supplying the population with a nutritional diet would help. However, as workers within these services have been on strike it suggests that the money is not available to fund these services (or the governmant is spending it elsewhere,possibly on the military)To acquire greater wealth trade links should be set up with other countries and because DR Congo is rich in valuable resources this would seem an inviting trade possibility, especially as the country could trade for medical supplies and food.

Anonymous said...

The DR Congo’s main priority for development is to use the money from trading natural resources to provide food and increase wages. This will therefore increase the currencies value. By providing food it will prevent people from dying and as the wages increase less nurses and teachers will be going on strikes. However they should also put money towards services like education so that children wil have a better opportunity of getting a well paid job. They should also trade with other countries to improve other services that will increase the development of their country.

Anonymous said...

I think DR Congo's main priorities should be to try and sort out any remaining conflict between the people and also to sort out the teachers & nurses crisis. Secondly, I think they should focus on establishing trade partnerships with neighbouring nations t transport their products. Personally, think that the hydro-electricity project should be dealt with last because altough this could ensure a better future energy wise, it is pointless when most of the population may not even have a use for the electricity and the [people should come first.

Kenny O'Donnell said...

Why might trading not be as easy, or not be as profitable as it should be for DR Congo? Who are they likely to trade with?