Introduction to Development theory
THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT
BACKGROUND
There are different practices for economic development. Despite of
several efforts for economic development, the condition of economic development
in underdeveloped countries has remained backward for a long time. Most of the underdeveloped
countries have dominance of rural areas. Government’s policies and programs of
economic and social development cannot encompass the living stander of the
entire rural people. Rural community lags behind in education, health, social
service.
Many countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin American are giving emphasis
on rural development. Nowadays, developed countries also assisting in rural
development of underdeveloped countries. They provide manpower and resources to
them for this purpose. Although some countries have positive result, it has
proved fruitless in many other countries. Different methods have been applied
according to the rural development condition. The problems have remained same.
However the rural development is unavoidably necessary to achieve all round
development of underdeveloped countries. In this failure effort of the past, it
is necessary to improve techniques and process of rural development. The underdeveloped
countries are effortful in this direction.
There are many economists who have developed many theories to developed
economic development. Some have emphasis on development of agriculture. Some
have emphasis on transformation of agriculture and industrial development for
economic prosperity.
Some important
and contextual concepts are discussed below.
LEWIS’ THEROY OF UNLIMITED SUPPLY OF LABOUR
# Lewis’ has considered labour as the
important means for production and economic development. According to him,
underdeveloped countries should fully utilize the available labour force for
economic and social development. His explanation of the economic structure and
economic development process of underdevelopment countries are discussed below.
INTRODUCTION
The economist
W.A Lewis’ has presented economic development theory linking with availability
of labour. His theory has given importance on structural change of economy as
the base of development. This concept is largely related to the matter of how
agricultural occupation can be developed towards modernization and industrial
sector and how it can lead the agricultural dependent population of rural area
towards prosperity. He has mentioned that agricultural development facilitates
industrial development and creates a situation of industrial production.
Lews’ has said
that the backward economy has dual character. They are
Modern / Capitalist Sector (C.S)
Traditional / Subsistence Sector (S.S)
MODERN / CAPITALIST
SECTOR (C.S)
The
modern/ capitalist sector remains under the control of capitalists. This sector
buys labour force or employs it in production or worker sell their labour in
such situation. This includes construction, manufacturing, business, and
service, mineral related business etc. Expansion of such business or industries
helps to increase profit. As such businesses are profit oriented both private
and public investments become possible.
TRADITIONAL /
SBSISTENCE SECTOR (S.S)
The
traditional agricultural sector is subsistence oriented. In this sector labour
force remains more than capital. On whole, this sector is labour oriented.
People live conducting agricultural and subsistence business. Such businesses
are self employment oriented rather than hiring labour. As more than necessary
people or least skilled forces involves in this sectors per unit labour
productivity of land remain at lower level. In some case, marginal productivity
of labour declines to zero level or even may be negative due to lack of certain
technology.
The economist
Lewis’ has also claimed that even though there have such differences between
traditional and modern business sector, they are related to each other. He says
traditional sector can assist in the development of modern sector. According to
him, modern sector develop different industries, produces different goods and
services including mineral excavation. As sufficient labour forces remain in
traditional agricultural sector, it can supply excess labour forces to modern
sector. Modern or capitalist sector needs sufficient labour forces for its
expansion. Traditional sector provides as much as labour as they need.
Subsistence or disguised unemployed, person getting periodical jobs small
retailers idle house wives can go to modern sector for employment.
As more labour forces
can be shifted to modern sectors, it helps in economic development in two ways.
As unemployed and
disguised unemployed persons of traditional sector are sifted to modern sector,
average productivity of this sector increase.
As unemployed and
disguised unemployed get employment in modern sector.
From this
modern sector/capitalist sector income grows resulting in market expansion.
This strengthens the base of modern sector for further development.
Lewis believed that large number of unemployed persons remain
in traditional sector. They seek employment opportunities. In this context, he
has taken population growth as the most important source of labour supply.
Population grows continuously but the agricultural land does not nor can it
create employment opportunities for the growing population. As a result,
unemployment problem arise. Unemployed persons also employment to earn for
liking. Employment opportunities are gradually created in modern sector and
provided to the growing number of unemployed worker/ labour people.
When the workers labours are brought to modern sector, they are paid
wages. The amount to be paid depends on the wages they used to earn while they
were working in the traditional sector. Marginal productivity of some workers
in traditional sectors remains at zero level. But on the whole, the families
earn more or less, average productivity remains higher than zero.
It is necessary to give more wages than average income to attract them
from traditional sector. If fewer wages than that is paid, they remain as
disguised unemployed and stay indifferent towards new employment opportunities.
In such situation only if a little more wage than they are earning is given,
they become ready to come to modern sector. Lewis argued that about 30%more
wage than their average income they are earning from traditional sector should
be offer to attrack workers to modern sector
According to him, reasons for being more
wage rate in capitalist sector that in subsistence sector are as follows.
- When production increases, real
wage also increases in subsistence sector. So, worker may demands more
wages in the capitalist sector.
- When excess workers are shifted
from subsistence sector to capitalist sector, real wage rate increases in
subsistence sector even if the production level has remained at same
level. The workers who go to the capitalist sector also demand more wages
as their income increases. So, there appears a situation to give more
wages to the labourers in capitalist sector.
- Living standard, consumption
etc. become of high level in capitalist sector. So more wages needed as
they need more expenses to maintain the same standard of living.
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