DEVELOPMENT SA

Short Answer Questions (SA) 3 Marks

Question 18.

Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use? Illustrate with your own examples related to development. (NCERT Question)

Answer:

1.          Total income is not a useful measure for comparison between countries. Since countries have different populations, comparing total income does not tell what an average person is likely to earn. Hence, we use average income which is total income of the country divided by total population.

2.         The defect of average as a measure is that it does not show the distribution (dispersion) of income between the rich and the poor.

3.         Two countries may have the same average income but in one country almost every family may enjoy more or less the same kind of income, whereas in the other, some may be very rich and others very poor. The disparity between rich and poor is an important feature that the average measure (per capita income) does not consider.

Example: In terms of development, we can take the example of India, where the metro towns are full of high-rise buildings and shopping malls while some villages have not yet been provided with a basic necessity like electricity.

Question 19.

What is per capita income? Mention any two limitations of per capita income as an indicator of development. (2012)

Answer:

The total income of a country divided by its total population gives the Per Capita Income.

Money cannot buy all the goods and services that are needed to live well. So income by itself is not a completely adequate indicator of material goods and services that citizens are able to use. For example, money can not buy a pollution-free environment or ensure that one gets unadulterated medicines, unless one can afford to shift to a community that already has all these things.

Question 20.

Kerala, with lower per capita income, has a better human development ranking than Punjab. Hence, per capita income is not a useful criterion at all and should not be used to compare States. Do you agree? Discuss. NCERT Question

Answer:

Per capita income is not a useful criterion at all to measure the human development ranking of a state. High per capita income is not the only attribute to a good quality life. Money cannot buy all the essential things required for a good life. Pollution-free atmosphere to ensure good health, protection from infectious diseases, lowering of mortality rate, promotion of literacy, etc. are essential for a good standard of living. In order to achieve these, joint efforts have to be made by all members of a community, be it rich or poor.

Kerala ranks higher compared to Punjab even with a lower per capita income because—

1.          mortality rate is lower

2.         literacy rate is higher and

3.         total number of children attending school (Classes I-V) is higher.

Question 21.

On the basis of which three indicators of HDI 2004 Sri Lanka has better rank than India? (2014)

Answer:

Three indicators of HDI 2004 in which Sri Lanka has better rank than India:

1.          Per capita income—The per capita income of Sri Lanka in US dollars was 4,390 US dollars while that of India was 3,139 US dollars.

2.         Life expectancy at birth—The life expectancy at birth for Sri Lanka was 74, higher than that of India at 64.

3.         Gross enrolment ratio for three levels—Sri Lanka had Gross Enrolment ratio of 69 while that of India was 60.

Question 22.

‘Conflicting goals can also be developmental goals’. Elaborate with examples. (2014)

Answer:

All persons do not have the same notion of development or progress. Each one of them seeks different things. The seek things that are most important for them, i.e., that which can fulfil their aspirations or desires. In fact at times two persons or groups of persons may seek things which are conflicting.

A girl expects as much freedom and opportunity as her brother and that he also shares in the household work. Her brother may not like this.

To get more electricity, industrialists may want more dams. But this may submerge the land and disrupt the lives of people who are displaced, such as tribals. They might resent this and may prefer small check dams or tanks to irrigate their land.

Question 23.

What are common developmental goals? Give any two suitable examples of common developmental goals. (2015)

Answer:

There are certain goals which are the same or common for all. These are common developmental goals. The developmental goals that people have are not only about better income but also about other important things in life. More income or more material goods do not always give us a good quality life.

There are other aspects such as equal treatment, freedom, security, opportunity to learn, good working conditions, pollution-free atmosphere, job security and good social life which are very important for a good quality life. Money or material things that one can buy with it, is one factor on which our life depends. But quality of our life also depends on non-material things, for example, the role of our friends in our life which cannot be measured but mean a lot to us.

Question 24.

“Money cannot buy all the goods and services that one needs to live well” Do you agree with this statement? Justify your answer with any three suitable arguments. (2015)

Answer:

Yes, I agree with the statement because money income and material goods alone are not an adequate indicator of a good quality of life. Money cannot buy all the goods and services one needs to live well.

•           Money cannot buy a pollution free and dean environment with fresh air.

•           It cannot protect us from infectious diseases and guarantee good health for us.

•           Money cannot assure that medicines available in the market are not adulterated.

To live well one needs non-material factors such as equal treatment, freedom, security, equal opportunity to learn, a pollution free environment, good and safe working conditions etc.

Question 25.

Apart from income, which other six things people look for as important aspects of our lives? (2014, 2012)

Answer:

High per capita income is not the only attribute to a good quality life. Money cannot buy all the essential things required for a good life. Pollution-free atmosphere to ensure good health, protection from infectious diseases, lowering of mortality rate, promotion of literacy, job security, good working conditions, etc. are essential for a good standard of living.

Question 26.

One what basis the rich and low income countries have been categorized in the world? What are the limitations of this approach? According to the World Development Report, 2006, India comes in which category? Give reason for the same. (2015, 2014)

Answer:

The World Bank uses average income or per capita income as a criterion for classifying different countries. Countries with per capita income of ?4,53,000 per annum and above (in the year 2004) are called rich countries and those with per capita income of ?37,000 or less are called low income countries (India comes under low income countries; the per capita income in India is ?28,000 per annum). Those falling in between ₹37,000 – ₹4,53,000 are placed in the middle category.

Limitations of this criterion.

1.          While averages are useful for comparison, they also hide disparities. Two countries may have identical average income, but one country may have equitable distribution where people are neither very rich nor very poor, while in the other country most citizens are very poor and very few are extremely rich,

2.         Better income cannot ensure a good quality life. Criterion set by the World Bank has ignored certain attributes of a good life which do not depend on income or cannot be . bought with money.

Example, freedom, equal treatment, equal opportunities, free atmosphere, provision of unadulterated medicines, etc.

Question 27.

Why do people look at a mix of goals for development? Explain.

Answer:

Though income is one of the most important components of development, but there are other important goals which people look at for development—

1.          People also seek things like equal treatment, freedom, security and respect.

2.         Women need a safe and secure environment to take up a variety of jobs or to run businesses as entrepreneurs.

3.         People seek a pollution free environment.

4.         Students seek better education and equal opportunities to learn.