Chapter 8, Global Inequality Social Change: Inequality and Development Global Poverty and Dependence Competition, Change and International Relationships

Most-to-least Developed Countries Most developed - countries of North America and Western Europe along with Australia and New Zealand. Less-developed - the former Soviet Union’s sphere of influence along with nations in Asia and Latin America.

Most-to-least Developed Countries Least-developed - the remaining 75% of the world’s political entities. Includes populous nations like India and China, along with many nations of Asia, the Middle East, and especially, Sub-Saharan Africa.

Theories of Development Modernization: Less-developed countries will adopt the technology and social institutions used by the developed countries. World system theory: views the world as a single economic system in which core societies control world resources at the expense of peripheral societies.

Sustainable Development Necessary to: Reduce levels of absolute poverty so that more people can produce and consume. Reduce rates of population growth.

Forms of Economic Dependency Banana republic Dependent on producing agricultural commodities for export. The costs of imported goods exceeds the returns on exports “banana republics” become less able to attend to domestic production necessary for their own people.

Forms of Economic Dependency Industrial dependency Occurs when least developed nations provide cheap labor to foreign industrial corporations. Foreign capital dependency Occurs in the least developed nations when a powerful local elite invites foreign investment.