Caribbean Studies Module 2 Study Guide - Summary

Concepts of Development

• Development: Holistic societal advancement, raising quality of life through economic, social, political, and cultural improvements.
• Economic Development: Sustained improvement of a country’s economic well-being and standard of living, featuring economic growth and structural changes.
• Sustainable Development: Meeting present needs without compromising future generations; balanced approach to economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection.
• Human Development: Expanding individual capabilities and opportunities (health, education, living standards), as measured by the Human Development Index (HDI).
• Social Development: Progress in social conditions and institutions (education, health, gender equity, social justice) for an inclusive society.

Measuring Development: Economic Indicators

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Total monetary value of final goods/services produced within a country in a year; measures economy size.
• Gross National Product (GNP): Production by a country’s residents, including net income earned abroad.
• Gross National Income (GNI): Total domestic and foreign income claimed by residents; replaces GNP in reports.
• Per Capita Income: Average income per person in a country; gauges standard of living.
• Gini Coefficient: Measures income inequality (0=perfect equality, 1=perfect inequality).
• Standard of Living: Level of wealth, comfort, goods, and necessities available to a person/community.
• Cost of Living: Expense of basic needs in a specific area, impacting the real value of income.
• Purchasing Power Parity (PPP): Adjusts economic metrics for price differences across countries; allows for fair comparison of living standards.
• Productivity: Measures production efficiency (output per unit of input).

Measuring Development: Social Indicators

• Human Development Index (HDI): Composite index combining health, education, and income.
• Quality of Life: Overall well-being and life satisfaction, including tangible and intangible factors.
• Internet Penetration: Percentage of population with internet access; reflects technological advancement.
• Modern Technologies: Measure of usage of advanced tools/innovations in a society.
• Good Governance: Quality of leadership/management in public institutions (accountability, transparency).
• Responsible Environmental Factors: Pursuing development in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Factors Affecting Development: Gender Inequality

• Gender Inequality: Disparities between women and men in rights, resources, and opportunities.
• Glass Ceiling: Invisible barriers preventing women from reaching senior leadership.
• Gender Inequality Index (GII): Measures losses in human development due to gender inequality (reproductive health, empowerment, labor market participation).

Political Ideologies and Popular Movements

• Political Ideologies: Systems of beliefs about governance and economy (e.g., colonialism, nationalism, capitalism, socialism).
• Popular Movements: Collective actions seeking change (e.g., labor rebellions, independence, civil rights, feminist, environmental activism).

Distribution of Wealth and Resources

• Equitable Distribution: Promotes social inclusion, maximizes human capital, and creates stability.
• Inequitable Distribution: Hinders development, reduces workforce quality/size, lowers family incomes, and creates social costs such as crime.

Changing Class Boundaries

• Social Mobility: Movement between social classes, promoting meritocracy and inclusion.
• Class Rigidity: Static class structures hinder development by limiting opportunities.

Entrepreneurial Drive and Activity

• Promotes Development: Generates employment, fosters innovation, reduces reliance on traditional industries.
• Hinders Development: Lack of drive limits job creation & innovation; necessity-driven activity remains low-growth.

Global Economic Conditions

• Favorable Conditions: Promote Caribbean development through trade, investment, and remittances.
• Unfavorable Conditions: Hinder development due to vulnerabilities to recessions, price shocks, and debt burdens.

Natural and Human-Made Disasters

• Negative Impacts: Destruction of Infrastructure/lives/livelihoods; diversion of resources.
• Positive/Adaptive Impacts: Spur improvements in infrastructure and planning.

Government Policies and Development

• Policies that Promote: Macroeconomic stabilization; development planning; economic liberalization.
• Policies that Hinder: High debt; austerity; crime; education quality; political/governance challenges.

Quality and Relevance of Education

• Promotes Development: Raises workforce skills/productivity; fosters innovation; reduces inequality.
• Hinders Development: Low educational outcomes; skill mismatch; inequitable access; limited resources.

Tourism and Development in the Caribbean

• Tourism’s Role: Contributes to GDP, employment, and infrastructure development.
• Challenges Faced: Economic vulnerability; infrastructure costs; environmental sustainability; revenue leakage; quality/relevance of education; safety/security.

Technology, Globalization, and Development

• Ways Technology Advances Development: Improves communication/information access; creates new industries/jobs; increases efficiency; supports education.
• Ways Technology Facilitates Globalization: Connects to global markets; facilitates trade/outsourcing; accelerates cultural diffusion; improves transportation.