Todaro Defines Development

In our day to day lives we come across the term developed, however, it of great importance to
fully understand when it is appropriate to use this term in relation to human beings. A clear
understanding on what the term ‘developed’ constitutes is very relevant to human beings.
Todaro and smith (2006) defines development “as a multidimensional process involving major
changes in social structures, popular attitudes, and national institutions, as well as the acceleration
of economic growth, the reduction of inequality, and the eradication of absolute poverty.
Development, in its essence, must represent the whole gamut of change by which an entire social
system, tuned to the diverse basic needs and desires of individuals and social groups within that
system….”
Additionally, Dudley seers (1969) suggested that development occurs when a country (all citizens)
experiences a reduction or elimination of poverty, inequality and unemployment.
Owing to the fact that as evident as it is in the given definitions of development, resources are
necessary to achieve development. Therefore, a resource is defined as ‘something that one uses
to achieve an objective’. In the context of development a resource can be loosely defined as
something that human beings can access in order for them to be considered developed or for
them to attain development.
Owing to the fact that resources can be both tangible and intangible resources, it can be noted
that for people to be considered developed, both a physical reality and a state of mind which are
necessary to be considered developed have to be achieved. The term resource is often attributed
to factors of production and other natural resources. But in the context of this presentation, a
resource is anything necessary to be accessed for human beings to be considered developed.
Todaro’s definition of development is very evident of certain resources necessary for

development. It should be argued that basic needs are a key resource needed in the development
process. Such basic needs include; access to shelter, food, education, health services and
sanitation, among others. The attainment of such needs is very important with respect to
development
Furthermore, access to education, health services and having a reasonable level of income
continue to pose as benchmarks on which the levels of human development are measured.
Access to education lowers the illiterate rates, whereas access to good health services, sanitation,
and shelter among others increases the life expectancy of individuals. Additionally, high levels
of income enable individuals to pay for and access certain basic needs necessary for
development. These important components are collectively used as a measure of human
development.
Borrowing from Dudley seers’ definition of development it should be noted that people should
have employment, inequality should be reduced and poverty should be eradicated for people to
be considered developed. Employment will ensure certain levels of development which will
translate into high per capita GDP. Additionally, having a source of income is resourceful for
development to take place owing to the fact that it enables people to meet certain needs. For
example, a reasonable income would enable a household to have three meals per day. This would
also translate into sustained lives.
Owing to the fact that development is multidimensional, the availability of certain services is a
necessary resource in the development process. People cannot be considered developed if certain
resources are not readily available. Such resources can be services. For example, the
unavailability of transport services can hinder development from taking place in so many ways.
Transport is a very important resource for human beings to be considered developed. The
unavailability of transport services can hinder people from having access to food, health services,
education services and many more services. This would translate into lack of development.
Human development is a process of enlarging people’s choices. In principle, these choices can
be defined as infinite and change over time. But at all levels of development, the three essential
ones are for people to lead a long and healthy life, to acquire knowledge and to have access to
resources needed for decent standard of living. If these essentials are not available, many other
opportunities remain inaccessible. But human development does not end there. Additional
choices highly valued by many people, range from political, economic and social freedom to
opportunities for being creative and productive, and enjoying personal self-respect and
guaranteed human rights.
Human development has two sides. The formation of capabilities — such as improved health,
knowledge and skills; and the use people make of their acquired capabilities — for leisure,
productive purposes or being active in cultural, social and political affairs. If the scales of human
development do not finely balance between the two sides, considerable human frustrations may
result.
According to this concept of human development, income is clearly only one of the options that
people would like to have, albeit an important one. But it is not the sum total of their lives.
Development must, therefore, be more than just the expansion of income and wealth. Its focus
must be people. The choices people make, as the development reports have pointed out, is a
process which is best understood in the specific contexts of their time and space, for choices
change and are specific to cultures.
United Nations development program (2016) human development report explanatory note.
Undp
Todaro m p and Smith sc 2011 economic development 11th edition. London Pearson education
limited.
World Bank 2011 world development indicators. Wb Washington DC.
United Nations Development Programme (1997). Human Development Report 1997:

Eradicating Poverty. New York: Oxford University Press
. United Nations Development Program (1990). Human Development Report 1990: Concept
and Measurement of Human Development. New York: UNDP
Collier, P., (2007). The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What
Can Be Done About It? Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sobhan, R. (2010). Challenging the Injustice of Poverty. New Delhi: Sage.

Sen, A. (2001). Development as Freedom. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press

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In our day to day lives we come across the term developed, however, it of great importance to

Todaro’s definition of development is very evident of certain resources necessary for

World Bank 2011 world development indicators. Wb Washington DC.

United Nations Development Programme (1997). Human Development Report 1997:

Sobhan, R. (2010). Challenging the Injustice of Poverty. New Delhi: Sage.

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