The Evolution of Developmental Gaps between Rich and Poor Countries, 1955-65: A Methodological Pilot Study
In: International social science journal: ISSJ, Band 27, Heft 1, S. 38-52
ISSN: 0020-8701
The gap between rich & poor countries is frequently viewed as increasing although no precise measurement of this gap has been effected. Here, the 'taxonomic distance' from an 'ideal country' is used as a composite index of relative development levels of particular countries. The difference between 2 X distances--1 for rich countries & 1 for poor ones--is applied as a composite measure of the developmental gaps between the 2 groups in a sample of 50 countries in 1955-1965. Countries were chosen on the basis of availability, estimability, & comparability of data; centrally planned economies had to be excluded, & "countries at the lowest development level are under-represented." The primary source of data was UN publications. The evolution of gap measures (standardized) is analyzed in 3 fields: (1) economic potential--per capita GNP & energy consumption, (2) mass media--radios, newspaper circulation, & TV sets per 1,000 population, & (3) high-level manpower potential--secondary & post-secondary student enrollments. The results show an acceleration in the rate of gap increases, & the underlying shifts in rank positions of particular countries in the years 1955, 1960, & 1965. Limitations of the results in terms of the validity & comparability of the original data are noted. 2 Tables, 5 Figures. Modified Author's Summary.