Development involves multiple perspectives as far as categorizing the status of world states is concerned. In its definition, it would be appropriate to incorporate two overarching perspectives of development namely: the state of affairs and the welfare distribution in a state. An accurate definition of development will therefore be the process of achieving a state of affairs with equitable welfare distribution in a country or state. In this definition, a country with many resources or a large GDP is necessarily not developed not unless these resources or distribution of the wealth is fair.
The developed world and the developing one have distinguishing factors and characteristics. The Plaid Avenger identified these differences in terms of degrees of development in the categories of technological, industrial, economic, social, health, middle class, governmental and military status. The developed world maintains a higher state of affairs in all of the above categories as compared to the developing world. The developed world also has the most advanced technology in many of its sectors if not all. On the contrary, the developing world is has labor intensive sectors and are less productive. The developed world also enjoys high economic status, much better social life and high-standard healthcare. They also have stable governments and sophisticated militaries. On the other hand, the developing world is characterized by low economic and social standards, poor healthcare, less stable governments and less equipped militaries. Another clear cut difference between the developed and the developing world is the distribution of benefits derived from the prevailing state of affairs, or welfare in general. The Plaid Avengers noted that the middle class constitutes the largest proportion of citizens of the developed world, which also have less of the poor individuals which implies that most people in the developed world enjoy high living standards. In the developing world, the middle-class is much smaller and wealth is held mainly by a few individuals. As a result, there exist overwhelmingly large numbers of poor individuals in the developing world.
As earlier noted, there are diverse views on the issue of development. Even so, the Plaid Avenger’s representations of the global economy and development are very helpful for varied reasons. Initially, this presentation details a history of the existing dichotomy of the global economy and development. This information is very important especially in giving insight into what led to such a big gap between the levels of development in countries as well as the trend that is likely to be in effect. The comprehensive coverage of the differing degrees in development in states draws the differences between the developed and the developing world. The overall assessment by the Plaid Avenger’s arrives at informed predictions as to how the future status of development is likely to be. Although the inclusion of China as a developed country is arguably not ripe, the Plaid Avenger’s view that China is headed to the top resonates with many other observations in similar works.
Rosling’s TED Talks presentation is equally helpful especially in addressing the current trend in development. Using a ten-year data record, or otherwise scientific surveys, he observed a developing trend in healthcare in many countries of the developing world as mortality rates and other health concerns decline in line with the UN’s Millennium goals. Rosling’s argument on Kenya’s and other developing countries’ poor healthcare records is consistent with the differences outlined between these countries and the developed ones. The two presentations therefore contribute extensively to the understanding of development and the global economy.
References
Rosling, H. (Speaker) (2010). The Good News of the Decade. [Video]. Available at:
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The Plaid Avengers. Understanding the Plaid Planet: Developed or Developing?
