The way countries develop can teach us valuable lessons. To understand the success and failure of our neighboring countries, we need to compare the different phases of their strategies.
China’s Developmental Phases:
- Pre-Reform Period Failures:
- Slow growth and lack of modernization under Maoist rule.
- Maoist economic vision failed to bring significant progress.
- Despite reforms, per capita grain output stagnated.
- Successes:
- Infrastructure development in education and health.
- Land reforms and decentralization.
- Equitable foodgrain distribution through commune system.
- Post Reform Period (after 1978) Successes:
- Individual land ownership brought prosperity in agriculture.
- Rural industries flourished, supporting further reforms.
- Gradual liberalization, fiscal decentralization, and economic restructuring.
- China’s GDP increased over tenfold since 1978.
- China’s economic growth averages 9.37% annually.
- Enforcing the one-child norm in 1979 contributed to low population growth.
Pakistan’s Developmental Phases:
- Pre-Reform Period Failure:
- Over 40% poverty rate in the 1960s.
- Stagnation, drop in remittances, and budget deficit in the 1980s.
- Foreign exchange reserves sometimes as low as 2 weeks of imports.
- Post-Reform Period (after 1988) Failure:
- Reform process worsened economic indicators.
- GDP and sectoral growth fell in the 1990s.
- Poverty, which declined to 25%, started rising again.
- Agricultural growth depended on good harvests, not institutionalized change.
- Fall in foreign exchange earnings and growing dependence on foreign loans.
- Success:
- Pakistan showed GDP growth of 8% for three consecutive years (2002-2005).
In summary, China’s phased reforms from 1978 led to remarkable success, while Pakistan’s reforms from 1988 resulted in a slowdown of growth and a resurgence of poverty.
11.5 CONCLUSION
India, China, and Pakistan have taken different paths in their development journeys spanning over five decades, leading to varied outcomes.
- India:
- Performance: Moderate
- Key Points:
- Majority still relies on agriculture.
- Infrastructure lacking in many parts.
- Struggle to improve living conditions for over a quarter below the poverty line.
- Pakistan:
- Performance: Poor
- Key Points:
- Faces political instability.
- Heavy reliance on remittances and foreign aid.
- Agriculture sector performs poorly.
- 2005 earthquake caused significant loss of life and property.
- China:
- Performance: Comparatively Best
- Key Points:
- Successful in achieving high growth and reducing poverty.
- Used market mechanisms for additional opportunities.
- Retained collective land ownership, allowing individual cultivation for rural social security.
- Positive human development results through public intervention in social infrastructure.
Objective Type Questions
1. During China’s pre-reform period, what major achievement contributed to equitable foodgrain distribution?
A) Individual land ownership
B) Rural industries
C) Land reforms
D) Commune system
Answer: D) Commune system
2. What economic policy was enforced in China in 1979 to control population growth?
A) Fiscal decentralization
B) Market liberalization
C) One-child norm
D) Land reforms
Answer: C) One-child norm
3. What was a significant economic challenge faced by Pakistan during the pre-reform period in the 1980s?
A) Foreign exchange reserves increase
B) Budget surplus
C) Poverty rate below 10%
D) Stagnation and budget deficit
Answer: D) Stagnation and budget deficit
4. In which period did Pakistan experience a GDP growth of 8% for three consecutive years (2002-2005)?
A) Pre-reform period
B) Post-reform success
C) Post-reform failure
D) 1980s economic challenges
Answer: B) Post-reform success
5. What was a notable outcome of China’s post-reform period starting in 1978?
A) Reduction in per capita grain output
B) Slow growth under Maoist rule
C) GDP increase over tenfold
D) Lack of modernization
Answer: C) GDP increase over tenfold
6. What characterizes India’s development performance according to the conclusion?
A) Poor
B) Moderate
C) Best
D) Excellent
Answer: B) Moderate
7. Which country faces political instability, heavy reliance on remittances, and poor performance in the agriculture sector?
A) India
B) China
C) Pakistan
D) None of the above
Answer: C) Pakistan
8. What positive human development results were achieved by China through public intervention in social infrastructure?
A) Reduction in living conditions
B) Equitable foodgrain distribution
C) Reduction in poverty
D) Lack of modernization
Answer: C) Reduction in poverty
9. What key factor contributed to China’s rural social security during its post-reform period?
A) Fiscal decentralization
B) Individual land ownership
C) Market liberalization
D) Collective land ownership
Answer: D) Collective land ownership
10. Which country struggled to improve living conditions for over a quarter below the poverty line, according to the conclusion?
A) China
B) India
C) Pakistan
D) All of the above
Answer: B) India