why have some countries developed really quickly while others are still under developed?

Question

the demographic transitions took place very quickly in some centuries(under a century).Why has this not been the case with developing countries.

Answer 1

Two important things:
1. The Will to be developed interpreted in economical, poltical and social policies.
2. Fighting corruption.

Answer 2

Some cultures just don't blend well with the corporate 9 to 5 mentality. I would guess it also has to do with the countries relationship to the other more developed countries. Also, natural resources are an issue. How should a country like Chad, which is landlocked and practically 100% desert, build anything?

Answer 3

most "developed" western style globalised economies are based on a power imbalance with other areas, eg getting raw resources and labour cheap, dumping surplusses, while putting up barriers to forign value added products.

And by inventing a money based value system the "west" has managed to put most of the world into debt which it is not able to repay without cutting the basic services which would alow them to develop and chalange the current world order.

Also environmental and social cost is rarely factored in to what it means to be "developed" - eg Bhutan might be considered undeveloped, but it is governed to maximise Gross National happiness, not GDP, and there are strict curbs on deforestation etc.
Another alternative meaning of "development" is shown by the Zapistas for the indiginous peoples of Chiapas

Answer 4

very simply resources and government

Answer 5

perhaps war, disease, bad government, it all matters on what ddecisions they make, and also on how fortunate or not they get