Analyse the social and economic goals of development.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:55 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Development has both social and economic goals, which together aim to improve the overall quality of life.
Economic Goals:
- Higher income and better wages for all people, especially landless labourers and the poor.
- Reduction of economic inequality so that benefits of growth are shared fairly.
- Employment opportunities for the unemployed, particularly urban youth.
- Higher per capita income (GNI) as a basic measure of a country's development.
Social Goals:
- Access to quality education and healthcare for all citizens.
- Elimination of social discrimination based on caste, gender, or class.
- Equal freedom and opportunity for women, as men enjoy.
- Better life expectancy and higher literacy rates (indicators used in Human Development Index).
Thus, true development is not just about income growth but also about improving health, education, equality, and human dignity. As the UNDP's Human Development Report shows, countries are compared on income as well as health and education levels.
Source: Chapter 1 — Development, sections "What Development Promises" and "Human Development Report"
---
Explanation
- Examiners expect both dimensions — social and economic — stated clearly with examples.
- Mentioning HDI/UNDP adds value and shows awareness of measurement tools discussed in the chapter.
- Avoid writing a vague essay; use crisp points with brief elaboration.
- The table on developmental goals of different persons (Table 1.1) is the best source for varied economic and social aspirations.