How economic social and political factors interact to change society

1. Economic Aspect of
Development
 Economic growth means increased production capacity of
the country and economic development means more
material goods for everyone.
 However, we need to note that there can be economic
growth without economic development, but there can
never be economic development without economic
growth.
 This, therefore, means that economic growth can be
unequal. Development can bring better living conditions to
some people but for others development might mean
making their lives worse.
 In other words economic growth can make some people
rich while the majority remain poor.

2. How Economic Growth Can
Bring Unequal Development to
Society
 When more industries are set up in urban areas, more
infrastructures is also set up such as schools, hospitals, roads
etc.
 This also leads to rural-urban migration since the rural dwellers
hope to find paid employment in urban areas.
 They also want to use the modern infrastructure which will be in
urban areas.
 This means that the rural areas will not develop because there
are no industries which create employment and the infrastructure
is also not well developed.
 This will then force people to move out Those who are /left
behind remain in poverty.

3. Social Aspects of Development
 Development is a wider process involving
changes in people's quality of life. Here, we
will be looking at social changes which
develop or improve people's livessocial
development has been defined as a better or
improved standard of living for people, where
their basic needs are met and the wealth of
the country is shared out equally.

4. How Economic Growth Can Bring
Unequal Development to Society
cont.
 This example shows that economic growth of the country is not
fairly enjoyed by everyone.
 It brings unequal development because urban areas are
developed while rural areas are left lagging behind.
 Economic growth can be shared equally when the
decentralisation process is implemented or when some
industries are created in rural areas.
 This means that infrastructure will also be created in rural areas.
Improved infrastructure such as provision of schools and good
farming methods will be introduced to improve self-sufficiency in
food production.
 It also enhances better use of the natural environment as the
rural dwellers will appreciate the impatience of environmental
conservation.

5. How Economic Growth Can
Bring Unequal Development to
Society
 For instance, since the rural people will be working they will also
be able to afford other alternative sources of energy such as gas
and electricity instead of cutting trees for firewood. This is a good
example of how economic growth can be shared out by everyone
in the society.
 People who move from rural areas to developed urban areas do
not necessarily benefit from the wealth at the urban areas.
 Most of these people live in over-crowded areas because the
space is not enough for everyone.
 These areas are usually associated with anti-social problems
such as crime, prostitution and many other social Rs.
 They could only benefit from this wealth if some income gen-
erating ventures that can keep them busy are set up in rural
areas.

6. Social Aspects of Development
 Development is a wider process involving
changes in people's quality of life. Here, we
will be looking at social changes which
develop or improve people's lives.
 Social development has been defined as a
better or improved standard of living for
people, where their basic needs are met and
the wealth of the country is shared out
equally.

7. Social Aspects of Development
cont.
 Human basic needs are things that a person needs to survive
such as water, food, clothes and shelter.
 Water and food keep people healthy. Clothes and shelter help
protect the people and shield them from cold or hot weather as
well as from other forms of dangers and harm.
 Besides basic needs people also need social services which also
improve their quality of life. These are always provided to the
people by the government.
 The provision of such services depends on the economic growth
of the country and how it is shared out.
 Social services are needed by all people, therefore, they should
be provided cheaply so that the poor people can also benefit
from them.

8. Problem caused by lack of
social services
 There are many problems that may occur due to lack of
social services such as clean water; and one of them is
that people will have access to contaminated water
sources such as wells, rivers and dams.
 This may cause an epidemic disease like cholera
which is very dangerous to people's lives.
 Shortage of water also means that people will not be
able to clean up their environment well.
 Therefore clean water supplies are needed to avoid
the dangers of water borne diseases and to maintain
good hygiene.

9. The above example indicates that social
aspects are also very important to people
because they determine their quality of life.
The lower the provision of social services,
the lower the quality of life and the more the
provision of social services the higher the
quality of life.
When there is economic growth and the
wealth of the country is fairly shared out, the
social services such as health, education,
and water will also be enjoyed by everyone in
the society.

10. Political Aspects of
Development
 These political aspects are also as important to people
as the economic and social aspects.
 People need to have control over their lives.
 Therefore, development should also involve political
freedom, good government and just laws.
 If people in a country are not able to have the basic
human rights, development is greatly slowed down.
 These rights enable people to respect one another and
lay the very foundation upon which social well-being is
built.

11. Political Aspects of
Development cont.
 In some countries where human rights are not respected or are
violated on the basis of colour, gender or any other factor for that
matter, we say there is discrimination and abuse of human rights
in such countries.
 This means that people are not treated fairly. Social services
and amenities such as education and health are not fairly shared
out and distributed.
 Above all there is no fair trial and equality before the law.
 Most of the time the minority groups, opposition parties or any
other group that stands for equality for all people are victims of
such discrimination.
 Even people with disabilities and women receive harsh and
unkind treatment.

12. Political Aspects of
Development cont.
 Discrimination may become more serious to the
extent that it leads to conflict and war. This conflict
can be caused by some of the following factors;
 Government mismanagement of resources.
 Struggle for independence.
 Political differences.
 Religious differences.
 Ethnic differences.
 Economic interests and many others.

13. Political Aspects of
Development cont.
 When people are granted their rights such as freedom
of speech and expression, they form part of decision
making process.
 They have a say in how they want the wealth of the
country to be shared out, For instance, when social
services are distributed, their ideas help the
government to take these services where they are
mostly needed.
 Fair distribution of health and education means an
educated and healthy society which could use its
resources in a sustainable way and contribute more to
the labour supply which is needed in production.