Rostow's Stages of Development is a model proposing that countries pass through 5 stages as their economies grow: (1) traditional society dominated by subsistence agriculture; (2) preconditions for take-off as manufacturing develops and trade increases; (3) take-off period of extensive growth and industrialization; (4) drive to maturity where technology increases and economies diversify; and (5) high mass consumption where living standards are high. The model is widely cited but criticized for assuming all countries develop the same and not accounting for variations within countries.

1. Rostow’s
Stages of
Development
By:
Jasmine, Wei-
hao, Alex

2. What is it?
 A model of economic growth suggesting that all
countries pass through a series of stages of
development as their economies grow.

3. A series of 5 stages

4. STAGE 1: Traditional Society
 Dominated by subsistence agriculture
 agricultural based economy
 Intensive labor and low levels of trading
 Having a population that has no scientific
perspective on the world and technology

5. STAGE 2: Preconditions to take- off
 Society begins to
develop manufacturing
 country advances to a
more complex economy,
beginning of economy
development
 levels of technology
develop
 development of a
transport system- TRADE.
 Rostow believed: could
only be reached by a
great achievement of a
surplus of wealth

6. STAGE 3: TAKE- OFF
 Short period of extensive growth.
 Industrialization begins. Manufacturing more
important part of economy
 Introductions to technical innovations–
economic rise
 Agriculture progressed to commercial rather
than subsistence

7. STAGE 4: The drive to Maturity
 Takes place over a long period of time – standards of
living rise
 Use of technology increases
 National economy grows and diversifies
 Increased percentage of Nation’s wealth- invested into
developing its economy

8. STAGE 5: High Mass
Consumption
 Individual incomes are greater
than necessary for buying
essentials
 growing demand for additional
consumer goods and services
 Improved health care systems
and education
 Economy flourishes

9. DISADVANTAGES- Criticism
 Has a strong bias towards a western model of
modernization
 Assumes that all countries follow the same route
of development
 Doesn’t look at variations within a country
 Assumes that each country is economically and
politically free

10. ADVANTAGES
 Highly respected and referred to model
 Primary example of the “intersection of
Geography, economics and politics”
 Most widely cited development theories

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 http://worldissues2011.wikispaces.com/Stages+o
f+Economic+Development
 http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Describe_and_critical
ly_analyze_Rostows_theory_of_growth
 http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Revision:
Models_of_Development