What Is Development and Why Is It Important?

A development is any area of a city, town or countryside that has been improved and regenerated to make it more attractive. It can be physical (such as new roads or buildings) or a social change such as improved education or healthcare.

There are many reasons why development is important for a country. The main reason is that it improves the standard of living for citizens. People in developed countries are generally healthier, have better jobs and live in better quality housing. They are also more educated and have access to more information and services which makes them more productive.

Another reason is that development helps a country to defend itself. As countries become richer they are able to have larger armies and build stronger alliances with other nations. This protects them from attacks by other countries that may want to destabilise them or take their land.

A further benefit of development is that it reduces inequality. Inequality is a major cause of conflict and armed violence in less developed countries and it limits the economic growth of a country. Development is vital for reducing inequality in developing countries so they can meet their full potential.

There are many different theories of development and these depend on the assumptions researchers make about human nature. Some of these theories are called meta-theories and they include assumptions about what causes people to develop. For example, some theorists such as Piaget believe that humans play an active role in their own development while others like some behaviorists assume that people are passive participants reacting to external influences.