Question

Difficulty: MediumObstacles to Economic Development in Developing Nations

Match each obstacle to economic development in developing nations on the left with its correct economic mechanism or structural manifestation on the right.

  • Vicious cycle of povertyLow real income causing low domestic savings, leading to insufficient capital formation and persistent low productivity
  • High dependency ratioA large proportion of the population being non-working dependents, diverting national output to immediate consumption rather than investment
  • Dualistic economic structureCoexistence of a modern urban sector alongside a traditional subsistence agricultural sector
  • Technological backwardnessReliance on outdated production techniques and inadequate research and development, resulting in low output per worker

Answer

The vicious cycle of poverty matches low real income restricting savings and capital formation; high dependency ratio matches a large proportion of non-working dependents diverting output to consumption; dualistic economic structure matches the coexistence of modern and traditional subsistence sectors; technological backwardness matches reliance on outdated techniques resulting in low output per worker.
Each development obstacle is accurately linked to its defining macroeconomic characteristic: the vicious cycle of poverty connects low income to weak capital formation; the high dependency ratio links population structure to heavy consumption demand; economic dualism captures the split between modern and traditional sectors; and technological backwardness explains reduced labor efficiency from outdated methods.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the vicious cycle of poverty mechanism
Identify that low income leads to low savings, low investment, and low capital accumulation.
This represents the self-reinforcing financial bottleneck to growth.
2
Analyze demographic impacts on economic development
Identify that a high dependency ratio increases consumption expenditure relative to productive savings.
Demographic pressure limits the available surplus funds for capital projects.
3
Examine structural economic characteristics of developing countries
Identify economic dualism as the formal modern sector operating side-by-side with an informal or traditional agricultural sector.
Dualism creates market fragmentation and uneven productivity across regions.
4
Assess the effect of technological limitations
Identify technological backwardness as outdated production methods causing low output per unit of input.
Lack of technical progress keeps total factor productivity constrained.

Key Concept

Key structural, demographic, and financial obstacles restricting growth and development in developing economies
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