Economic Growth and Social Development

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Economic growth, while necessary, is alone not sufficient to ensure comprehensive social development. Discuss. Recent researches indicated that in most of the developing countries with high rates of economic growth, hundreds of millions remained in abject poverty and in many countries income distribution appeared to have worsened as they experience economic growth. A consensus has emerged that it was not enough for development policy to pursue a high rate of growth of overall or per capita income. Policy needed to aim more directly at social development objectives – employment, improved distribution, reduction of poverty. It is necessary to promote social and economic policies in parallel, in a complementary and mutually reinforcing manner. Economic growth permits sustained investments in social development; and human development raises the capacities of people to contribute to growth. Sustainable growth and poverty reduction require socially inclusive National Development Strategies. While it is undeniable that promoting social development depends at least in part on economic growth, focusing only on profit margins (economic growth) has historically incurred long-term social and economic damages. The economic and social aspects of any action are interconnected. Some argue that social policies should not be a primary policy objective for developing countries. Instead, it is said that economic growth should be the first priority, as the benefits of growth will “trickle down” eventually to the poor. The rationale of this conservative argument is that: • Growth is a pre-requisite for poverty reduction. The benefits of growth will eventually trickle down to the rest of society. • The rich save more; higher inequality means higher rates of savings, investment and future growth. • Poverty keeps the labour force cheap and thus encourages investment. • Minimal

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