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W.B.C.S. Examination Notes On – Economic Landscape – characteristics And Evolution – Rostow – Geography Notes.
One of the key thinkers in 20th-century Development Studies was W.W. Rostow, an American economist and government official. Prior to Rostow, approaches to development had been based on the assumption that “modernization” was characterized by the Western world (wealthier, more powerful countries at the time), which were able to advance from the initial stages of underdevelopment.Continue Reading W.B.C.S. Examination Notes On – Economic Landscape – characteristics And Evolution – Rostow – Geography Notes.
Accordingly, other countries should model themselves after the West, aspiring to a “modern” state of capitalism and liberal democracy. Using these ideas, Rostow penned his classic “Stages of Economic Growth” in 1960, which presented five steps through which all countries must pass to become developed: 1) traditional society, 2) preconditions to take-off, 3) take-off, 4) drive to maturity and 5) age of high mass consumption. The model asserted that all countries exist somewhere on this linear spectrum, and climb upward through each stage in the development process:
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- Traditional Society: This stage is characterized by a subsistent, agricultural-based economy with intensive labor and low levels of trading, and a population that does not have a scientific perspective on the world and technology.
- Preconditions to Take-off: Here, a society begins to develop manufacturing and a more national/international—as opposed to regional—outlook.
- Take-off: Rostow describes this stage as a short period of intensive growth, in which industrialization begins to occur, and workers and institutions become concentrated around a new industry.
- Drive to Maturity: This stage takes place over a long period of time, as standards of living rise, the use of technology increases, and the national economy grows and diversifies.
- Age of High Mass Consumption: At the time of writing, Rostow believed that Western countries, most notably the United States, occupied this last “developed” stage. Here, a country’s economy flourishes in a capitalist system, characterized by mass production and consumerism.
Rostow’s Model
Rostow’s Stages of Growth model is one of the most influential development theories of the 20th century. It was, however, also grounded in the historical and political context in which he wrote. “Stages of Economic Growth” was published in 1960, at the height of the Cold War, and with the subtitle “A Non-Communist Manifesto,” it was overtly political. Rostow was fiercely anti-communist and right-wing; he modeled his theory after western capitalist countries, which had industrialized and urbanized. As a staff member in President John F. Kennedy’s administration, Rostow promoted his development model as part of U.S. foreign policy. Rostow’s model illustrates a desire not only to assist lower-income countries in the development process but also to assert the United States’ influence over that of communist Russia.
Stages of Economic Growth in Practice: Singapore
Industrialization, urbanization, and trade in the vein of Rostow’s model are still seen by many as a roadmap for a country’s development. Singapore is one of the best examples of a country that grew in this way and is now a notable player in the global economy. Singapore is a southeast Asian country with a population of over 5 million, and when it became independent in 1965, it did not seem to have any exceptional prospects for growth. However, it industrialized early, developing profitable manufacturing and high-tech industries. Singapore is now highly urbanized, with 100% of the population considered “urban.”1 It is one of the most sought-after trade partners in the international market, with a higher per-capita income than many European countries.
Criticisms of Rostow’s Model
As the Singapore case shows, Rostow’s model still sheds light on a successful path to economic development for some countries. However, there are many criticisms of his model. While Rostow illustrates faith in a capitalist system, scholars have criticized his bias towards a western model as the only path towards development. Rostow lays out five succinct steps towards development and critics have cited that all countries do not develop in such a linear fashion; some skip steps or take different paths. Rostow’s theory can be classified as “top-down,” or one that emphasizes a trickle-down modernization effect from urban industry and western influence to develop a country as a whole. Later theorists have challenged this approach, emphasizing a “bottom-up” development paradigm, in which countries become self-sufficient through local efforts, and urban industry is not necessary. Rostow also assumes that all countries have a desire to develop in the same way, with the end goal of high mass consumption, disregarding the diversity of priorities that each society holds and different measures of development.
For example, while Singapore is one of the most economically prosperous countries, it also has one of the highest income disparities in the world. Finally, Rostow disregards one of the most fundamental geographical principals: site and situation. Rostow assumes that all countries have an equal chance to develop, without regard to population size, natural resources, or location. Singapore, for instance, has one of the world’s busiest trading ports, but this would not be possible without its advantageous geography as an island nation between Indonesia and Malaysia.
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