Humans have come a long way. From hunting our food,
to growing it, to ordering it over the phone.
Life has gotten easier and better for most of humanity.
As we've built advanced societies with many people leading longer
and healthier lives made even better by modern amenities.
This process is called development.
We often hear people divide up the world into developed and developing countries.
But what do those labels mean?
The best measure is to take the size of a country's economy,
its gross domestic product, or GDP,
which is the total value of all goods and services from crops to cars
and from waiting tables to writing wills that are traded or produced
within the borders of a country over a period normally a year,
and then divide it by the number of people that live there.
This is called GDP per capita.
Some countries
with a large GDP have a large population.
So their GDP per capita might be relatively low.
On the other hand, some countries with a small GDP might have a small population.
So their GDP per capita might be relatively high.
Countries with high GDP per capita
are considered richer and more developed, and countries with low GDP
per capita are considered poorer and said to be developing.
So why do some countries have higher GDP per capita than other countries?
Well, every country is unique,
but there are some important conditions that are required for countries
to really grow and sustain healthy economies.
First, there needs to be peace and stability.
When people struggle to survive every day.
It's nearly impossible for them to go to work regularly and earn a living.
Second, populations need quality education.
If people are able to read and do math, they are likely to be productive workers
and savvy consumers.
And increasing knowledge fosters innovation and helps spread
new technology.
Third, people need access to capital.
Starting new businesses and establishing more advanced industries requires money,
which can be accumulated domestically over time
or source from abroad much more quickly.
Fourth, countries need to establish the rule of law,
where government officials operate by a written legal code
instead of corruptly helping themselves and the people
they like and harming those they don't like.
When the rule of law includes strong property rights, it spurs economic growth.
People are more likely to start businesses and work hard.
When they are able to keep the money they earn, the things they build and the
ideas they invent.
Fifth, there
needs to be equality of opportunity.
If governments eliminate discrimination against women and minorities,
ensuring that businesses and the law treats all people equally,
they can participate in the markets they want and can work in.
The jobs are best suited for unleashing their full economic potential.
Many countries struggle to achieve these five preconditions
for economic growth, but other countries frequently offer to step in and help
by hosting peace negotiations, funding and supporting education programs
and offering cheap loans for infrastructure projects.
But why would one country care about helping another country grow economically?
Well, there's several reasons.
Some governments value humanitarianism
and simply view it as the right thing to do.
We should all try to help our fellow humans no matter where they live.
Countries can also help themselves by helping other countries.
They can improve their own security Poor countries are vulnerable
to terrorists, pirates and drug cartels.
Those dangerous groups don't necessarily respect borders
and often spread violence and conflict to other countries.
But if a country has a growing economy, those violent groups are less likely
to form reducing the security threats for other countries.
Another reason
countries help other countries is to boost their own economies.
If other countries are more prosperous, they can become more beneficial
trade partners and can offer new investment opportunities.
But development isn't just about economics.
Since the 1980s, the concept of development has expanded
to include humans abilities to live their lives the way they want.
Are people able to move freely without discrimination?
Can they access modern health care and live in environments free of pollution?
Do they have political equality and the freedom to speak their minds?
The United Nations Development Program works to help countries improve,
and it has incorporated
this new understanding of development and its mission.
Since 2016 the agency has been guided by the UN's 17
Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs,
which not only target economic growth but also aim to protect the environment.
Encourage democracy and promote equality.
Overall, the world has improved dramatically over the past 40 years.,
Extreme poverty has decreased by 75%
The number of students going to school has increased by nearly 50%,
and the average income has quadrupled.
But there are plenty of ways for the world to further develop, and for every country
to become a better place to live.