Economic Development, Progress and Happiness

Summary

This video by Noah Zerbe delves into the concept of development, questioning what it truly means in the context of global politics. Zerbe traces the historical roots of development, focusing on post-WWII decolonization and Cold War influences. He highlights how early development models prioritized industrialization and economic growth but often overlooked broader social concerns, such as equality and sustainability. The video also explores modern alternatives, like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and raises thought-provoking questions about how development should be measured—whether through GDP, happiness, or life satisfaction.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Development is a complex and debated concept, often linked with progress, equality, justice, and economic growth.
• 📜 Most countries classified as 'developing' gained independence after World War II, amid Cold War tensions between the US and the USSR.
• 🇺🇳 International organizations like the UNCTAD and UNIDO played key roles in promoting development paths for newly independent nations.
• 🎯 US President Harry Truman outlined a four-point plan focusing on multilateralism, economic recovery, collective security, and development in the global south to prevent the spread of communism.
• 🏭 Early models of development equated industrialization and economic growth with progress, but by the 1970s, it became clear that growth didn’t always equal development.
• 👩‍🌾 Development models initially ignored broader aspects like gender, informal sectors, and sustainability, leading to unequal benefits and environmental consequences, as seen in the construction of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt.
• 💡 The World Bank divides countries into income categories based on GDP per capita, but these categories obscure significant differences within and between countries.
• 🌐 The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to address broader aspects of development, including ending poverty and hunger, gender equality, climate change, and sustainable economic growth.
• 😃 Happiness and economic growth show a correlation up to a certain point, but beyond a per capita GDP of $20,000, increased economic growth doesn't necessarily lead to greater happiness.
• 📊 Various development measures exist, such as the Human Development Index and Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness, offering alternatives to GDP as indicators of progress.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video?

The video focuses on problematizing the concept of development in global politics, examining how development relates to progress, equality, justice, and growth.

What historical context does the video provide regarding the concept of development?

The video highlights that most countries now considered 'developing' gained independence after World War II, with a wave of decolonization in Africa and Asia following India's independence in 1947, during the Cold War.

How did the United States and the Soviet Union view development during the Cold War?

Both the US and the USSR promoted developmental paths for the global south, seeing it as a way to recruit allies and counter the influence of communism, with development often linked to industrialization and economic growth.

What were some early mainstream models of development focused on?

Early mainstream models of development centered on industrialization and economic growth, with the idea that a larger economy meant a more developed country.

What are some of the criticisms of industrialization as a measure of development?

By the 1970s, it became clear that industrialization did not necessarily equal development, as it left questions about progress, equity, sustainability, and the broader human condition unanswered.

What example does the video use to illustrate the complexities of development projects?

The Aswan High Dam in Egypt is used as an example, showing how it brought benefits like increased electricity and exports but also caused forced relocations, environmental damage, and uneven distribution of benefits.

What are the World Bank's categories for classifying countries by income level?

The World Bank classifies countries as high-income (GDP per capita above $12,375), middle-income (subdivided into lower middle and upper middle), and low-income (GDP per capita below $1,026).

What issues arise with categorizing countries by GDP per capita?

There are significant differences within each category, and the arbitrary lines between categories, such as between Tanzania and Benin, obscure important distinctions in living standards and economic conditions.

What alternative ways of thinking about development are discussed in the video?

The video mentions the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an alternative framework for development, focusing on broader objectives like ending poverty, ensuring equality, and promoting sustainability.

What is the relationship between GDP and happiness, as discussed in the video?

The video explains that while there is a correlation between GDP and happiness at lower income levels, this relationship flattens around $20,000 per capita, with further GDP increases not necessarily leading to higher happiness.