Tuesday March 12: a further examination of economic development

Greetings and exhortations!

Today, we will continue to explore models of economic development. Below are the remaining slides from the second round. Here is what I wish you to do:

A) read the slides

B) answer the following questions about those slides

C) send your answers my way in an email with your name and todays date in the subject line

cheers,
Mr. L

QUESTIONS:

1) One of the slides maintains that "expendable income" is what is left over after all bills have been paid. Is it possible that bills automatically go up as income goes up? Please discuss this possibility, with at least two arguments in favor of this proposal and two arguments against it. A complete sentence for each argument

2) As a followup, it has been said that taxes collected by government at all levels is the biggest set of bills anyone pays. Please discuss the possibility that taxes as a percentage of income go up as societies go from being less to more developed Not less than three complete sentences

3) In the slide for "demographic indicators", there is some talk of "gender equality, meaning equality of opportunity. Presumably, this means that as societies progress economically, women will have more equality of opportunity vis a vis men. How true is this? How much proof can you offer that this is so? Not less than four complete sentences, with two being in favor of this proposition being true and two that it is not true

4) In the slide which discusses "Primary, Secondary Tertiary" economic activity -- plus the slide which immediately follows it -- it is stated that as societies advance and become wealthier, there is a smaller and smaller percentage of people involved in "primary" activities. Is this good for society as a whole, or is it merely a bubble that can potentially explode if economic growth stops, or even regresses and goes backwards. Two complete sentences arguing that it is a good thing, two opposing sentences arguing how it can be harmful

5) In the slide for Technology, it states that the "technology gap" means that some people have more access to technology, or know more about how to use it. Which comes first? An argument for each one being the cause, with the other being the effect, two complete sentences for each argument

6) In the slide about "raw materials" it is stated that a nation can have a lot of raw materials and still not be wealthy; it further explains that it depends upon who OWNS the raw materials and can profit from them. Question: are raw materials inherently worth something. Please give three examples of some raw materials which you believe ARE inherently valuable vs three that only have value because people figured out what the heck to do with them. Explain to me WHY those raw materials are inherently valuable

7) In the slide pertaining to the "Human Development Index", HDI is defined as being comprised of life expectancy, literacy, education, and standard of living. They don't define any of these terms. How would you define "standard of living"? Not less than three complete sentences

8) Which comes first, greater literacy and education, or a a longer life expectancy. Create at least one argument for literacy/education being first, one for longer life expectancy. At least two complete sentences explaining each position

9) Create your own question, and answer it

10) Repeat number 9 above