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Caribbean Studies Notes manufacturing sector, commerce

and so on.
Module three:
Concepts and Indicators of
Development Human Development refers a
philosophy that sees development
Development: Development is a
as the process of improving the
broad topic which encompasses
welfare and richness of human
concerns such as sustainable,
life. It an approach to
economic and human development.
development that places human
In essence, it is the ability of
beings at the centre of the
a country to advance in an
process. The level of human
economic, social, political or
development can be measured the
environmental sense, and it can
Human Development Index (HDI),
be indicated through various
which focuses on life
quantitative measures, such as
expectancy, educational
the GDP, GNP, HDI and per capita
attainment and per capita
income, and qualitative
income.
measures, such as governance and
so on.
CXC definition: Development is Economic development this is the
the ability of a country to traditional definition of
advance economically, measured development. Economic growth is
by changes in its per capita only considered to a be a part
income as well as by the human of economic development, which
development index which includes is an increase in the productive
life expectancy and educational capacity or an increase in the
attainment. real GDP of the economy.
Moreover, economic development
Sustainable development refers
is directly connected to an
to a philosophy that sees
improvement in the services,
development as a holistic
jobs, infrastructure and the
undertaking that seeks to
creation of money in a country.
improve the lives of people by
Conclusively, it is concerned
balancing economic, social and
with an increase in the standard
environmental objectives or
living of a country. Standard of
needs of present and future
living is the degree of wealth
generations. In other words, it
and material comfort enjoyed by
involves meeting the needs of
the populace of a country.
the present without compromising
the ability of future
generations to meet their needs,
for example, by making conscious
efforts to protect the
environment. This concept
provides linkages among various
sectors within the economy, for
example the agricultural sector,
Module two Caribbean Studies – Issues in Caribbean Development
Topic - Concepts and Indicators of Development & Factors that hinder or
promote development.
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Factors that promote or Hinder directly affect the level of

Development: economic and human development.
Natural disasters this is an
environmental hazard that is
Gender inequality refers to the characterized by widespread
unequal treatment of a death and destruction, which
particular gender. The Caribbean cannot be avoided but their
region has been dominated by effects can be minimized. The
patriarchy, which is a social Caribbean region is highly
system where men always susceptible to a wide range of
dominant, causing Caribbean natural disasters, a common one
women and girls are at a serious being hurricanes, which can
disadvantage. However, in recent force our economies to a state
times, due to the feminist of turmoil, for example the
movement, women are now being earthquake in Haiti that
employed in previously male occurred in 2010 result in
dominated areas. Nonetheless, widespread death and
the level of unemployment for destruction. Moreover, this can
females is higher than their hinder development due to the
male counterparts in a destruction of infrastructure,
staggering amount of Caribbean crops and livestock, an increase
countries, for instance in in the level of unemployment, a
Trinidad and Tobago a high reduction and expansion of
portion of the female populace exports and imports,
is unemployed, and this respectively, and so on. This
phenomenon is referred to as the can therefore impact the level
feminisation of poverty. This of human, sustainable and
can hinder development as it economic development.
perpetuates gendered education,
poverty and unemployment. Distribution of wealth and
Gendered education leads to resources – This is a factor
lower-achieving females taking that can promote or hinder
jobs in catering, textile development because it impacts
manufacture or crafts, whilst income generation in society.
men take on opportunities in the Moreover, the level of income
fields of medicine, law and equality can be measured through
politics. In addition, women may the use of the Gini coefficient,
be discriminated against in the which is derived from the Lorenz
labour market through losing out curve that traces how the total
on employment opportunities to income is distributed among the
less qualified men or through population in an economy. The
the disparity between male and aforementioned coefficient may
female wage rates in the adopt a value between 0 and 1,
homogeneous jobs. Statistically, where 0 denotes perfect income
poverty affects women more than equality and 1 denotes perfect
men, because most single-parent income inequality. In the
households are headed by the Caribbean, according the Gini
mother. Moreover, this would coefficient the highest
Module two Caribbean Studies – Issues in Caribbean Development
Topic - Concepts and Indicators of Development & Factors that hinder or
promote development.
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inequality is in Haiti. High will cause increase in the rate

levels of income inequality in of poverty. However, there is
the Caribbean is as a result of constant debate about how much
the stratified plantation the state should interfere in
societies. This can hinder the workings of the market.
development as it can lead to Moreover, in order ensure that
poverty and it exacerbates developmental goals are met,
social stratification. Moreover, each ideology much be
those in poverty would suffer reconstructed to ensure the
from social exclusion and promotion if equity,
inequality, for instance, they productivity, empowerment and
may be unable to gain access to sustainability.
decent health care, jobs and
housing. Subsequently, this Entrepreneurial Activity is
would lead to various economic concerned with the level of
and non-economic costs. One such economic activity of the
economic cost would be an productive sector, which is
increase in the demand for the concerned with the production of
provision of the Government’s goods and services within an
social services, such as welfare economy. This can aid in
payments, which would force the development by providing
government to diverge its scarce employment, investments and
resources away from other better technology.
opportunities, such as Tourism this refers to the
infrastructural developments. temporary movement of persons
Furthermore, perpetuated from outside of their normal
unemployment would decrease the places of work and residence. In
government’s taxation revenue the most Caribbean economies
obtained from income taxes, tourism is the primary earner
which could lead to fiscal for foreign exchange earnings.
problems. Non-economic costs, or Also, it provides employment as
social costs, would come about these industries are labour
from the increased level of intensive.
criminal activity, as some may
address their situation by Challenges of tourism:
stealing. -There is a high degree of
Political ideologies refer to foreign owned tourism products
the systems of beliefs about the in the Caribbean. In addition,
governance of a country that emerging technologies are
reflects the needs of different eliminating the need for the
social groups. Capitalism, middleman in the Caribbean for
socialism and communisms are all tourism, for instance e-
examples of political ticketing and e-registration.
ideologies. Capitalist societies -Ecotourism can cause damage to
can hinder development because our fragile ecosystem, for
it may be characterized by high instance there is a growing
levels of income inequity, which tendency among tourists to
Module two Caribbean Studies – Issues in Caribbean Development
Topic - Concepts and Indicators of Development & Factors that hinder or
promote development.
 4

break-off corals to carry home

as souvenirs. This will
therefore have a direct impact
on the fishing industry.
Caribbean Tourism Organization –
This is a regional tourism
developmental agency for the
Caribbean, with 30 member
countries from across the
region, as well as a myriad of
private sector allied members.
The headquarters of this agency
is located in Barbados, whose
stated purpose is “Leading
sustainable tourism -One sea,
One Voice, One Caribbean”.
CTO provides the following
Benefits:
It provides scholarships for
Caribbean nationals in member
countries through its
scholarship foundation.
Promotes the consciousness of
the need to preserve both the
natural and man-made beauty of
the Caribbean environment.
Promotes tourism in the
Caribbean through publishing
travel guides.

Module two Caribbean Studies – Issues in Caribbean Development

Topic - Concepts and Indicators of Development & Factors that hinder or
promote development.