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modernisation paradigm — English
A set of economic theories which indicate that technological development results in economic development, increased well-being, higher literacy rates and levels of education, and lower population growth and improved quality of life. This paradigm hypothesises that mechanisation of the agricultural and industrial industries, the strengthening of the secondary positive and tertiary sectors of the economy (by means of financial incentives), the availability of better health care, an increased level of education, an increase in the per capita financial wealth of the population and a decrease in population growth are all related in a network of positive correlations. It is a concept dating from at least 50 years ago so there has been ample time to test the hypotheses underpinning the theories that constitute the paradigm. Yet, no totally convincing proof has been found. In some countries, these positive correlations have actually been recorded, but in others not. In most of the African states, nothing to support the theories has occurred. In the so-called BRICS countries (see “economic development”) some of the positive correlations have been detected, but mostly only in certain pockets of the country and by no means all over the country. There are so many exceptions that the paradigm could not be accepted as a universal truth. To mention only one discrepancy to the theories of the paradigm, the case of the USA might be studied. The USA’s modernisation and economic development have followed most of the rules of the modernisation paradigm, but its economic development has led to an unexpected fast population growth rate as a result of immigration. Another discrepancy is that in most African states the birth rates and population growth rates have remained high despite increased economic development and the provision of better health care services. The modernisation paradigm is important as it provides a framework for scientific thinking (that is, a paradigm), but not all predictions made on the basis of this paradigm have been proven correct. (See “economic development”, “human development index”, “economic growth”, “development”, “developed countries” and “developing countries”.)
