The document discusses Walt Rostow's stages of economic growth model, which proposes that countries pass through 5 stages in their economic development: 1) traditional society, 2) preconditions for take-off, 3) take-off, 4) drive to maturity, and 5) age of mass consumption. It provides details on the characteristics of each stage. The model suggests countries must progress from agricultural to industrial economies. It is criticized for being too simplistic and assuming all countries will develop along the same Western capitalist path.

1. ROSTOW’s Stages of
Growth Development
In partial completion of IR220- HRD @ the National Level
Prof. ROSA MERCADO
By Alfredo V. Primicias III

2. ROSTOW’s Stages of
Growth Development
In partial completion of IR220- HRD @ the National Level
Prof. ROSA MERCADO
By Alfredo V. Primicias III
TOPICS:
1.Who is Rostow?
2.Stages of Growth Development
3.Criticisms of the Model

3. ROSTOW’s Stages of
Growth Development
In partial completion of IR220- HRD @ the National Level
Prof. ROSA MERCADO
By Alfredo V. Primicias III
• Walt Whitman Rostow (Oct. 1916- Feb. 2003)
• Economist and Political theorist
• Special Assistant to Pres. Johnson on National Security Affairs
• Political Adviser to Pres. Kennedy
• Shaped US Foreign Policy in SEA in 1960s
• Advocate of Capitalism and Free Enterprise
• Wrote “The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non- Communist Manifesto”
(1960)– the Rostovian Take-Off Model of Economic Growth
• Considered as one of the more structuralist models of economic growth
• Rostow’s model is part of the liberal school of economics
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman_Rostow

4. ROSTOW’s Stages of Growth Development
In partial completion of IR220- HRD @ the National Level
Prof. ROSA MERCADO
By Alfredo V. Primicias III
What is it?
A model of economic growth suggesting that all countries pass through
a series of stages of development as their economies grow.
Ideologies
date way back
WW2
World
capitalism =
US leadership
European
Colonialism
bit the
historical dust
US & USSR
opposed
‘European’
colonialism
Cold War
US vs USSR
3rd World

5. ROSTOW’s Stages of Growth Development
In partial completion of IR220- HRD @ the National Level
Prof. ROSA MERCADO
By Alfredo V. Primicias III

6. ROSTOW’s Stages of Growth Development
In partial completion of IR220- HRD @ the National Level
Prof. ROSA MERCADO
By Alfredo V. Primicias III
1. TRADITIONAL SOCIETY
1. Dominated by an agricultural based
economy
2. Intensive labor and low levels of
trading
3. Population has no scientific
perspective on the world and
technology (Pre-Newtonian era)
4. Under developed economy
5. Slow economic growth
 Economy is dominated by
subsistence activity where output is
consumed by producers rather than
traded
 Trade is carried out by barter where
goods are exchanged directly for
other goods
 Agriculture is the most important
industry and production is labor
intensive using only limited
quantities of capital

7. ROSTOW’s Stages of Growth Development
In partial completion of IR220- HRD @ the National Level
Prof. ROSA MERCADO
By Alfredo V. Primicias III
2. PRE- CONDITIONS FOR TAKE- OFF
1. Shift from agrarian to industrial/
manufacturing society begins
• Transition Stage
• Discoveries and inventions
• Development of transport system
2. Creation of international markets
• Country advances to a complex
economy-- beginning of economy
development
3. Surplus of agricultural products
4. Pivotal role of Government
5. Spread of education & knowledge
 Increased specialization generates
surpluses for trading
 Emergence of a transport
infrastructure to support trade
 Entrepreneurs emerge as incomes,
savings and investment grow
 External trade occurs
concentrating on primary products

8. ROSTOW’s Stages of Growth Development
In partial completion of IR220- HRD @ the National Level
Prof. ROSA MERCADO
By Alfredo V. Primicias III
3. TAKE OFF
1. Rapid and dynamic economic growth
• Transition of a traditional economy to a
modern economy
• Increase in investment and per capita
output
• Growth of manufacturing sectors
2. Development in Political, Social and
Institutional Framework
3. Agriculture progressed to
commercial rather than subsistence
4. Group of entrepreneurs to pursue
innovation
 Industrialization increases, with
workers switching from the agricultural
sector to the manufacturing sector
 Economic transitions are accompanied
by the evolution of new political and
social institutions that support the
industrialization
 Growth is self-sustaining as investment
leads to increasing incomes in turn
generating more savings to finance
further investment
Country Take- Off Period
Great Britatin 1783- 1802
Russia 1890- 1914
US 1843-1860
Germany 1850-1873
Canada 1896- 1914
China 1952-
India 1952

9. ROSTOW’s Stages of Growth Development
In partial completion of IR220- HRD @ the National Level
Prof. ROSA MERCADO
By Alfredo V. Primicias III
4. DRIVE TO MATURITY
ROSTOW: “period when society has
effectively applied the range of modern
technology to its resources”
1. Result of the Take- Off Stage
• Old and New Industries
• Standards of living rise
• Use of technology increases
2. More amount of goods are produced
3. National economy grows and
diversifies
4. Increased percentage of nation’s
wealth- invested into developing its
economy
 Economy diversifies into new areas
 Technological innovation provides a
diverse range of investment
opportunities
 Economy is producing a wide range of
goods and services with less reliance
on imports
Country Maturity
Great Britatin 1850
Russia 1950
US 1900
Germany 1910
Canada 1950

10. ROSTOW’s Stages of Growth Development
In partial completion of IR220- HRD @ the National Level
Prof. ROSA MERCADO
By Alfredo V. Primicias III
5. AGE OF MASS CONSUMPTION
1. Individual incomes are greater than
necessary for buying essentials
2. Growing demand for additional
consumer goods and services
3. Improved health care systems and
education
4. Economy flourishes
 Economy gears towards mass
consumption
 Industries on consumer products
flourish
 Service Sector increases
dominance

11. ROSTOW’s Stages of Growth Development
In partial completion of IR220- HRD @ the National Level
Prof. ROSA MERCADO
By Alfredo V. Primicias III

12. ROSTOW’s Stages of Growth Development
In partial completion of IR220- HRD @ the National Level
Prof. ROSA MERCADO
By Alfredo V. Primicias III
CRITICISMS
1. Too simple.
• Process of growth not as a homogenous continuum but as a
discontinuous course involving qualitative changes
2. The western- capitalist model is not the only path to economic progress.
• Need for other infrastructure – human resources (education), roads, rail,
communications networks
• Assumes that all countries follow the same route of development
3. Not all countries and economies started the same way or would want the
same things as the US or western nations.
• Assumes that each country is economically and politically free
• Has a strong bias towards a western model of modernization
• Doesn’t look at variations within a country