Rostow’s Model of Development
The aim of this activity is to look at the characteristics of three countries in different parts of the world; to
identify some of the similarities and differences in the problems they face and the relevance of the Rostow
model of development to the three countries. One country will be from Africa, one from South America and one
from Asia.
Images:
Children in a rural village outside East London in the eastern Cape, South Africa. © Andrew Mogridge,
Stock.Xchng; Sydney's Harbour Bridge and Opera House. © Photolibary Group
Below is a series of data relating to the three countries:
Country
GDP
per
capita
($)
Infant
Sector composition
mortality
Labour force
Population(Million) (Agriculture:
(Deaths per
by occupation
Industry: Services)
1000 live
births)
Life
expectancy
(average)
Bangladesh 1,900
141.3
21.7: 26.6: 51.7
Agriculture 63%
Industry 11%
Services 26%
Djibouti
0.467
3.5: 15.8: 80.7
N/A
105.54
42
22.5: 18.9: 58.5
Agriculture 50%
Industry 15%
Services 35%
36.91
65
1,300
Guatemala 4,100
14.2
Source of data: CIA World Factbook
64.32
61
Bangladesh
Guatemala
Djibouti
Questions:
1. Using the data above, what stage in the Rostow model would you classify each of the three countries
and why?
2. From the data given what would you consider to be the key factors preventing the further development
of the three economies?
3. Considering the data given, what other features of each country might you expect to see that could limit
the potential for growth?
4. To what extent are these factors able to be controlled or influenced by internal or external bodies such as
governments or international agencies, e.g. the World Bank?
Now look at some further details about each country using the CIA factbook:



Bangladesh (https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/bg.html)
Djibouti (https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/dj.html)
Guatemala (https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gt.html)
5. What would you consider to be the common factors that limit the potential for development of each
country?
6. To what extent do the countries concerned differ in the difficulties they face in developing?
Image: The Volcan de Agua in Guatemala. Guatemala is mostly mountainous with active volcanoes, prone to
earthquakes and tropical storms. Copyright: Mauricio Morales
7. Given the research you have conducted, to what extent can the Rostow model help to explain economic
development?