Although Romania is considered one of the fastest growing economies with favourable prospects for the future, the country is lagging far behind other European countries on issues such as the quality of healthcare and education systems, levels of corruption, macroeconomic stability, and environmental safety.
The aim of this thesis is to provide an ensemble view of the factors that actually determine how advanced a country is by analysing the main Development Theories provided in the literature, and determining their significance in Romania’s past and present context.
This is done by first presenting each theory in detail, to ensure an understanding of the various dimensions and factors that should be taken into account in the assessment of any nation’s level of development, followed by an examination – tailored specifically to Romania’s context – of the four domains of sustainable development (economics, politics, society & culture, and ecology) through the consolidation of relevant statistical data and bibliographical information.
The findings of the paper highlight the fact that Romania’s overall development is not equivalent to its economic growth, as the latter does not necessarily reflect the population’s welfare. For the country to be considered advanced from other points of view as well, authorities should not fail to recognize that attracting and retaining foreign investment, encouraging entrepreneurship, increasing the national budgets for education, health-care, and infrastructure improvement, tackling the serious, ongoing problem of corruption and lack of institutional transparency, and strengthening environmental awareness and independence are all factors that have an important role in defining Romania’s current level of development, and in providing future generations with further opportunities.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter I. Development Theories
I.1. Stages of Growth Model of Development
I.2. Structural Change Theories
I.3. International Dependence Theories
I.4. Liberal Theories
I.5. Exogeneous Growth Model
I.6. Human Development Approach
I.7. Development and Sustainability
Chapter II. Romania on the Spectrum of Development
2.1. Applied Approaches
2.2. Economics
2.3. Politics
2.4. Society & Culture
2.5. Ecology
Chapter III. Conclusion & Proposals
Research Objectives and Focus
The thesis aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the factors that determine a nation's development level by evaluating prominent development theories and applying them to the historical and contemporary context of Romania, ultimately identifying key drivers for sustainable progress.
- Theoretical evaluation of core development models
- Analysis of Romania's historical economic and structural evolution
- Examination of four domains of sustainable development: economics, politics, society & culture, and ecology
- Assessment of institutional challenges including corruption and public investment efficiency
- Identification of strategic recommendations for future growth and welfare
Excerpt from the Book
Introduction
Renowned economist and Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz once said: “Development is about transforming the lives of people, not just transforming economies.”
Many theorists before him tried to define the concept of development by analysing how nations have evolved over time, which were the changes they had to implement to be deemed more developed in certain periods, what types of factors contributed to this advancement and in what way, and by identifying and/or introducing measurable variables to have a clearer basis for the comparison of different countries’ development levels.
The literature differentiates six main Development Theories, introduced successively over the course of the 20th century. First one is the Stages of Growth Model of Development introduced by Rostow, which presents the five stages that countries must go through in their transition from underdevelopment to development, followed by the Structural Change Theories of Lewis and Chenery, that describe the changes that ought to be implemented in a nation’s internal structure for it to switch from a traditional to a modern economy. In contrast with this, International Development Theories elaborate the way in which external factors might promote – or interfere with – countries’ advancement, while promoters of Liberal Theories argue that it is in fact too much intervention from nations’ internal institutions that might hinder growth.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the core concept of development beyond mere economic growth, referencing key theories and establishing the focus on Romania's specific development path.
Chapter I. Development Theories: Provides a detailed theoretical review of six major developmental frameworks, ranging from Rostow’s growth stages to the Human Development Approach and sustainability models.
Chapter II. Romania on the Spectrum of Development: An in-depth, domain-specific analysis of Romania's development across economic, political, socio-cultural, and ecological spheres, supported by statistical data.
Chapter III. Conclusion & Proposals: Synthesizes the findings, highlighting the critical role of institutional quality and providing strategic recommendations for Romania's sustainable future.
Keywords
Development Theories, Romania, Economic Growth, Sustainable Development, Institutional Transparency, Human Development, Foreign Direct Investment, Infrastructure, Corruption, Social Welfare, Liberal Economics, Structural Change, Environmental Sustainability, Education, Healthcare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The thesis focuses on analyzing how various development theories apply to Romania, evaluating the country's past and present status through an interdisciplinary lens.
Which domains of sustainable development are examined?
The work examines four interconnected domains: economics, politics, society & culture, and ecology.
What is the core research question?
The research seeks to identify the key factors determining Romania's level of development and determine how the country can accelerate and sustain its advancement.
What methodology is employed in this research?
The author uses a qualitative analysis approach, consolidating bibliographical information and statistical data to assess Romania's alignment with established development theories.
What subjects are addressed in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical foundations of development, Romania's structural transformation, its performance in global indices, and challenges in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key topics include economic growth, institutional transparency, sustainable development, and the human-centric approach to modernization.
How does the author evaluate the impact of the communist regime?
The author discusses the regime's role in forced industrialization and mobilization of labor, noting the negative impacts on individual welfare and the environment.
Why is the "Human Development Approach" significant in this context?
It is highlighted as the most insightful model because it shifts the focus from purely economic outputs to human freedoms, capabilities, and welfare.
What role does the Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) play in the author's analysis?
The DNA is presented as a crucial institutional factor that has established an impressive track record in tackling high-level corruption, reflecting the importance of transparency guarantees.
What does the author suggest for the future of Romania's IT sector?
The author identifies the IT sector as a potential "iron pillar" for the economy, provided that the country invests appropriately in human capital and infrastructure.
- Quote paper
- Enikő - Júlia Kádár (Author), 2018, Development theories and their relevance in Romania's past and present context, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/459733
