The document outlines the requirements for a six-page paper comparing two least developed countries (LDCs), Congo and the Philippines, explaining the selection criteria. It mandates an analysis of common features shared by the countries using five designated factors while ensuring at least seven credible sources are cited. Sources must be recent and reputable, excluding Wikipedia, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and blogs.

1. Write at least a six-page paper, in which you:
Identify the two LDCs (from the provided list), which you will
compare and assess. Explain why you chose these two
countries. (Congo and Philippines)
Analyze the features that the LDCs have in common using at
least five of the following nine factors (clearly label the five
factors using headings):
Geography.
Extractive institutions.
Governmental corruption.
Internal or external conflicts.
Shaky financial systems.
Unfair judicial systems.
Ethnic, racial, or tribal disparities.
Lack or misuse of natural resources.
Closed (statist) economies.
Use at least seven credible sources. Wikipedia, encyclopedias,

2. dictionaries, and blogs do not qualify as reputable academic
source work at the college level. Do not use sources that are
older than seven years.