What makes Sudan a developing nation and what characteristics might suggest otherwise?
It is considered a developing nation mostly because of its financial state due to the endless social conflicts between the people of Sudan. No worries, all of that will be explained later. With consideration to the statistics given above, they show that Sudan is still considered a developing country. One of the top indicators of a developing country is its standard of living. Sudan’s infant mortality rate is quite high in comparison to the world with its ranking standing at 35 (2012). Also, almost 50% of Sudan’s population lives below the poverty line which shows Sudan’s very low standards of living. In addition, Sudan’s population continues to grow at a rate of 1.88% (2012) while its birth rate is 31.7/1000. The world average population growth rate was 1.096% (2012) and the world average birth rate was 19.14/1000. With these two numbers, they show that Sudan’s population has been growing at a faster rate which tends to transform into high child dependency ratios. Higher birth rates mean there are a lot of young people under the age of 15; thus those of working age have to support a much larger proportion of children than the work force. Less people tending for their children means less people in the work force and thus a high unemployment rate. Sudan’s unemployment rate is 20% (2012) while on average it is about 9.2% (2012) which is another noticeable factor in Sudan’s status as a developing country.
However, some characteristics that might suggest otherwise are that much of Sudan’s GDP consumption is by services and not agricultural production or the export of primary products. Many of Sudan’s industries include oil, cotton ginning, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum refining. Unfortunately, 80% of the labor force is occupied by agriculture and only 7% by industry. Nonetheless, Sudan gained their independence from the United Kingdom January 1st, 1956 which shows that they have less dependence on outside countries. In fact, Sudan houses much of the oil that developed countries want which shows that in this aspect they are not vulnerable in international relations since the rest of the world wants Sudan’s oil resources.
Evaluate the difference between economic growth and development in Sudan:
Economic growth and development may seem like the same type of improvement in developing countries. However, they have completely different meanings. Economic growth takes places when a country produces and consumes more goods and services than the year before (or several years before, depending on what an economist is comparing). Growth is usually measured as the percentage change in real GDP (gross domestic product). Economic development is in a fact a broader concept than economic growth. It is concerned with human development. It deals with issues such as employment, education, health, and environmental sustainability.
In evaluation, economic growth is a necessary condition for economic development to take place, but there is no guarantee that economic growth will ultimately lead to economic development. For instance, the consumption of textiles has increased within Sudan. This may seem like a good thing but most of the consumption of these textiles is by the top 1% in the country. In Sudan, there is a huge income inequality gap between the extremely rich and those below the poverty level. Thus, economic growth has occurred but development has not since it is not seen throughout the entire population. Economic development unfortunately is very difficult to achieve, especially when almost 50% of the population is below the poverty level, like in Sudan. Those living below the poverty line have many difficulties in raising themselves out of poverty because most of their income is spent on essentials and never saved which eliminates the ability to earn more money.
Analyze why it is that Sudan is still considered a developing nation:
Historical Background, Ethnic and Religious Background, Geographic and Demographic differences
Before Sudan gained their independence in 1956, they were controlled by the United Kingdom. Sudan was involved in two prolonged civil wars during the last half of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972 but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-related effects resulted in more than four million people displaced and, according to rebel estimates, more than two million deaths over a period of two decades. With all of this constant turmoil and conflict, Sudan has never been able to recover from it all. Once they gained their independence, they lost sight of stability and the ability to compromise with one another. Because of the lack of stability and ethnic conflicts, Sudan has always been considered a developing country. In addition, South Sudan became independent on 9 July 2011. Since southern independence Sudan has been combating rebels from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. A separate conflict, which broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, has displaced nearly two million people and caused an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 deaths. The link below helps to understand the conflict that arose about 10 years ago in Darfur. It also shows how the extreme differences between the South Sudanese and Sudanese created such enormous problems for their people. It even states that Darfur was “the worst humanitarian crisis of today”.
Check it out. It’s incredibly interesting :)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3795269.stm
It is considered a developing nation mostly because of its financial state due to the endless social conflicts between the people of Sudan. No worries, all of that will be explained later. With consideration to the statistics given above, they show that Sudan is still considered a developing country. One of the top indicators of a developing country is its standard of living. Sudan’s infant mortality rate is quite high in comparison to the world with its ranking standing at 35 (2012). Also, almost 50% of Sudan’s population lives below the poverty line which shows Sudan’s very low standards of living. In addition, Sudan’s population continues to grow at a rate of 1.88% (2012) while its birth rate is 31.7/1000. The world average population growth rate was 1.096% (2012) and the world average birth rate was 19.14/1000. With these two numbers, they show that Sudan’s population has been growing at a faster rate which tends to transform into high child dependency ratios. Higher birth rates mean there are a lot of young people under the age of 15; thus those of working age have to support a much larger proportion of children than the work force. Less people tending for their children means less people in the work force and thus a high unemployment rate. Sudan’s unemployment rate is 20% (2012) while on average it is about 9.2% (2012) which is another noticeable factor in Sudan’s status as a developing country.
However, some characteristics that might suggest otherwise are that much of Sudan’s GDP consumption is by services and not agricultural production or the export of primary products. Many of Sudan’s industries include oil, cotton ginning, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum refining. Unfortunately, 80% of the labor force is occupied by agriculture and only 7% by industry. Nonetheless, Sudan gained their independence from the United Kingdom January 1st, 1956 which shows that they have less dependence on outside countries. In fact, Sudan houses much of the oil that developed countries want which shows that in this aspect they are not vulnerable in international relations since the rest of the world wants Sudan’s oil resources.
Evaluate the difference between economic growth and development in Sudan:
Economic growth and development may seem like the same type of improvement in developing countries. However, they have completely different meanings. Economic growth takes places when a country produces and consumes more goods and services than the year before (or several years before, depending on what an economist is comparing). Growth is usually measured as the percentage change in real GDP (gross domestic product). Economic development is in a fact a broader concept than economic growth. It is concerned with human development. It deals with issues such as employment, education, health, and environmental sustainability.
In evaluation, economic growth is a necessary condition for economic development to take place, but there is no guarantee that economic growth will ultimately lead to economic development. For instance, the consumption of textiles has increased within Sudan. This may seem like a good thing but most of the consumption of these textiles is by the top 1% in the country. In Sudan, there is a huge income inequality gap between the extremely rich and those below the poverty level. Thus, economic growth has occurred but development has not since it is not seen throughout the entire population. Economic development unfortunately is very difficult to achieve, especially when almost 50% of the population is below the poverty level, like in Sudan. Those living below the poverty line have many difficulties in raising themselves out of poverty because most of their income is spent on essentials and never saved which eliminates the ability to earn more money.
Analyze why it is that Sudan is still considered a developing nation:
Historical Background, Ethnic and Religious Background, Geographic and Demographic differences
Before Sudan gained their independence in 1956, they were controlled by the United Kingdom. Sudan was involved in two prolonged civil wars during the last half of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972 but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-related effects resulted in more than four million people displaced and, according to rebel estimates, more than two million deaths over a period of two decades. With all of this constant turmoil and conflict, Sudan has never been able to recover from it all. Once they gained their independence, they lost sight of stability and the ability to compromise with one another. Because of the lack of stability and ethnic conflicts, Sudan has always been considered a developing country. In addition, South Sudan became independent on 9 July 2011. Since southern independence Sudan has been combating rebels from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. A separate conflict, which broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, has displaced nearly two million people and caused an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 deaths. The link below helps to understand the conflict that arose about 10 years ago in Darfur. It also shows how the extreme differences between the South Sudanese and Sudanese created such enormous problems for their people. It even states that Darfur was “the worst humanitarian crisis of today”.
Check it out. It’s incredibly interesting :)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3795269.stm