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Economics · Ch 2 — Indicators of Growth and Development

Growth vs Development: Key Differences

2

Growth vs Development: Key Differences

Growth vs Development: Key Differences

BasisEconomic GrowthEconomic Development
NatureQuantitative — rise in real GDP/GNP or PCIQualitative — rise in living standards, welfare, capabilities
ScopeNarrower — output and income onlyBroader — health, education, equality, environment
How it is measuredGrowth rate of GDP/GNP/PCIComposite indices — HDI, PQLI, GDI
Distribution of gainsSays nothing about how income is sharedConcerned with equitable distribution of the gains
Can one happen without the other?Growth can occur without development (jobless or inequitable growth)Genuine, sustained development is rarely possible without some underlying growth
Time horizonCan be a short-run, even cyclical, rise in outputA long-run, structural, sustained process