A sociological study of development issues and problems in developing countries

Abstract

<p>In Part I simultaneous effects of both internal and external factors on economic development and human development in developing countries were investigated using data from 90 developing countries. Dependency/world-system theory, modernization theory and contemporary theoretical and empirical contributions guided the research. A negative effect of foreign capital penetration and a positive effect of the democratic experience of a nation on economic development were observed. A negative effect of relative size of agriculture sector and positive effects of democratic experience and ethnic homogeneity on human development were also found. The effects of foreign capital penetration and relative size of the agriculture sector on economic and human development were more pronounced in poorest countries;Part II of the study examined the intervening variables for the effects of internal and external factors on life expectancy in developing countries. Intervening roles of level of economic development, provision of basic services, level of primary education and fertility were observed. Primary education had the most pronounced effect in the poorest countries.</p>