Overview of Development and Structural Adjustment Policies
I. Economic Development and Globalization during the 20th Centuiry
A. Top-down policies: governments, multi-national corporations, NGOs are major actors
B. Primary goals1. transition from agriculture to industry (industrialization)C. Key assumptions
2. population movement from rural to urban areas (urbanization)
3. increase in labor productivity and specialization (modernization)
4. rise of state as economic planner (bureaucratization)1. rural sector declines, not productive, isn't importantD. State policies to jump-start industry
2. use agricultural surplus to expand industry1. overvalue currency, imported industrial inputs are cheapE. Policies to extract rural surplus
2. low industrial workers' wages, at subsistence level
3. low food prices subsidize urban industrial workforce
4. import substitution: replace consumer goods manufactured abroad with ones produced domestically1. direct export tax (mostly affects agricultural goods, as those are main exports)F. Secure foreign aid and investment for industry
2. cheap food prices (to feed industrial workers)
3. State revenues from export taxes go to industry
4. Decline in agricultural productivity frees up more farmers to work in industry
5. Declining profits in rural sector prompt urban migration
6. Nearly infinite supply of cheap labor from rural areas benefits industrialists
G. Impact of these policies1. Economic growth
2. Prestige projects: superhighways, airports
3. Traditional parts of economy saw little development
4. Cheap labor force lacks skills
5. Growing foreign indebtednessII. Structural Adjustment
A. Policies imposed by creditors (World Bank, IMF) so that countries can repay debt
B. Stop protection of local industry, "liberalize" economy, cut government spending, promote "fair trade"
C. Developing economies tended to1. Shield domestic industry from competitionD. Adjustment measures reverse this. They include:
2. Keep currency value high
3. Support social services1. Cut government spendingE. Effects
2. Sell off state-owned industry
3. Develop exports to earn foreign currency to pay debts
4. Reduce tariffs on imports to encourage free trade and open local markets
5. Stop protecting local industry
6. Devalue currency to make products more attractive on world markets
7. Increase interest rates
8. Eliminate subsidies and price controls, such as those on basic necessities or industrial inputs1. Inflation, it takes more local money to buy things than before
2. Reliance on key exports, crops or raw materials exposes economy to global volatility
3. Industry can't afford foreign equipmentFYP 102Homepage | syllabus| study guidequestions/journal and essay topics | LeshkowichHomepage
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