Exam 2: Comparative Economic Development  

Comment on the following statement: The level and growth rate of real GDP per capita can be a misleading indicator of development. At the same time, countries that experience sustained increases in real GDP per capita over time will tend to be more developed.

Explain how low levels of living can turn into a vicious cycle in developing countries.

In what way does nationalism tend to be a hindering force in attaining modern economic growth and development, and in what way a facilitating force?

Which of the following is not an indicator that is used to compute the Human Development Index?

About how many people lack access to safe water?

Which of the following is not a middle-income country?

The combined GDP of developing countries constitutes approximately

In what way(s) do the development paths chosen by Pakistan and Bangladesh differ? What are the main factors that have contributed to these differing paths?

An example of an upper-middle income country is

Are living standards in developed and developing countries converging? Give evidence to support your answer.

Explain why purchasing power parity measures of income levels tend to show a smaller difference between poor and rich countries.

What are some of the main ways in which the economies of developing countries differ from one another?

The number of units of developing country currency required to purchase a basket of goods and services in a developing country that costs one dollar in the U.S. is given by

The 2003 Human Development Report reported that the HDI of Botswana was 0.614 (and its rank was 125) and that of the Philippines was 0.751 (and its rank was 85). Botswana's per capita income (in PPP dollars) was 7,820 and that of the Philippines was 3,840. Comment and explain.

One of the components of the human development index is

Which of the following African countries has recently experienced widespread death and destruction due to ethnic or clan based conflict?

How many people still live on less than the equivalent of $1 per day?

What percent of the world's nations have at least five significant ethnic populations?

Why might the use of more advanced technology not be a sufficient condition for sustained economic growth?

Explain the lingering effects of colonialism and how it is still playing a role in hindering economic development in the developing world.