Understanding Development

Study Notes

Development involves working towards a better life and achieving goals, but what constitutes development can vary from person to person.
It is defined as economic growth accompanied by the growth of basic needs like education, health, and lifestyle.

People generally desire regular work, better wages, and a good price for their crops.
Apart from income, people also want a better quality of life, which includes non-material aspects like equal treatment, security, respect, and freedom.

The concept of national development can vary and conflict from person to person.
A country's developmental status can be determined by its characteristics, with income being an important attribute.
A country with a higher income level is considered more developed than one with a lower income level.

Per capita income is the total income of a country divided by its total population.
It is used to compare the developmental status of different countries.
Countries with a per capita income of US49,300perannumandaboveareconsideredhigh−incomeorrichcountries,whilethosewithapercapitaincomeofUS 49,300 per annum and above are considered high-income or rich countries, while those with a per capita income of US49,300perannumandaboveareconsideredhigh−incomeorrichcountries,whilethosewithapercapitaincomeofUS 2500 or less are considered low-income countries.
In India, in 2004, the per capita income was Rs 28,000, making it a low-income country.

While Haryana would be considered the most developed state based on per capita income, it is not true when considering other criteria like literacy rate and mortality rate.
Kerala had the highest literacy rate of 93.9% among these states.