Traditional societies depend on subsistence agriculture and barter trade, producing just enough for families to survive. As agriculture becomes more commercial and investments in transport and industry start, urbanization and specialization begin, marking the pre-conditions for take-off. The take-off stage sees a rapid rise in investment and massive growth in manufacturing, accompanied by social, political, and institutional changes to stimulate city growth. Most developed countries have reached the age of high mass consumption, where manufacturing and services dominate the economy, wages and standards of living are high, and demand for resources is also high.

1. •
a)Traditional society
This stage is characterised by a traditional society which depends on subsistence agriculture
for survival. Traditional societies are a group of people in which there is little economic
growth. In these societies people produce just enough to feed their families. They depend
on the exchange of goods for other goods. This is called the barter trade. This is some form
of trade involving the exchange of goods for other goods that people need and do not have
at that point in time. Traditional societies produce handicrafts and therefore preserve their
culture.

2. (b) Pre-conditions for take-off
This stage is characterized by increased agricultural production.
Commercial farming starts here and there are investment in transport and
industry. This also marks the beginning of urbanization and specialization
at work.

3. (c) The take-off or the big push
The take-off stage is also called the big push. In this stage there is a rapid rise in
investment and massive growth in manufacturing. The "take-off' stage
compares a country's industrial growth to an aero plane lifting off a runway
because it suddenly lifts off the ground and climbs quickly into the air. This
stage is accompanied by social, political and institutional changes. Industrial
development stimulates or speeds up the growth and development of cities.

4. (e) Age of high mass consumption
• Most developed countries have reached this stage. Manufacturing and
services are the largest sectors of the economy. Wages are high and the
majority of people are in the middle class. The demand for resources is
high and so are the standards of living.
• My dear learner, you must bear the following two points in mind about
the modernisation theory: That once economic growth has started it will
eventually "trickle-down" to the poorest sections of the society
• That if countries follow the same path of development they will finally
experience a sudden economic boom, which would then move them
from a poor traditional society to a wealthy industrial economy.