Assignment 5
Tamara Almeghari
July 2021
Please assess the degree to which the data presented support mod-
ernization theory vs. dependency theory. Be careful to explain your
answer.
The data presented in the video highly support the modernization theory. To
illustrate this, In 1810, all countries were poor and sick and the life expectancy
was below 40 in all countries. However, the industrial revolution made Euro-
pean countries move away from the rest, becoming healthier and richer, which
allowed mass production and allowed affluence. whereas, most countries stayed
poor and ill. In 1948, the USA was in the front, Japan was catching up, Brazil
was way behind and Iran was getting a little richer from oil but still had a short
life expectancy. Nonetheless, China, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh
were still at the bottom. However, through time, former colonies gained inde-
pendence and they finally started to become healthier and wealthier. In the
1970s, countries in Asia, Latin America began to catch up with western coun-
tries until they became emerging economics. This in particular demonstrates
the dependency theory where colonialism moved wealth from some countries to
others and made them independent.
1
Tamara Almeghari
July 2021
Please assess the degree to which the data presented support mod-
ernization theory vs. dependency theory. Be careful to explain your
answer.
The data presented in the video highly support the modernization theory. To
illustrate this, In 1810, all countries were poor and sick and the life expectancy
was below 40 in all countries. However, the industrial revolution made Euro-
pean countries move away from the rest, becoming healthier and richer, which
allowed mass production and allowed affluence. whereas, most countries stayed
poor and ill. In 1948, the USA was in the front, Japan was catching up, Brazil
was way behind and Iran was getting a little richer from oil but still had a short
life expectancy. Nonetheless, China, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh
were still at the bottom. However, through time, former colonies gained inde-
pendence and they finally started to become healthier and wealthier. In the
1970s, countries in Asia, Latin America began to catch up with western coun-
tries until they became emerging economics. This in particular demonstrates
the dependency theory where colonialism moved wealth from some countries to
others and made them independent.
1
