Why do you think third world countries are third world countries?

Question

Why do you think third world countries are third world countries? Why are they poverty stricken? Why did they not become wealthy like industrial nations? (Do not respond with an answer like technology, why do we have technology and them not? Money? Why do we have money and them not?)

Answer 1

I think because of:

A) (civil) wars
B) Lack of natural resources
C) Misuse of resources
D) Lack of an educational system
E) Western countries exploiting third world countries
F) Environmental issues such as droughts

Answer 2

I think it's a lack of an honest legal system, underdefined property rights, and gov't bureacracy.

In the USA, it's pretty easy to understand that many entrepeneurs may start their business with loans based on the equity in their home. This is feasible because our legal system has clearly defined who owns that property, as well as any liens it may have on it.

So what do you do in a country that has no system that gives legal title to property? How does one take a loan out on it? How does one borrow on it if the bank can't foreclose on it? There are an amazing number of poor countries that have just this problem. Even simple home ownership becomes rare, because homes must be paid for in cash. Usually families have to chip in to buy homes. Everything is informal.

The other big problem is the lack of an honest and responsive legal system. Say I have a contract and the other party breaches. I sue for damages, but the other party bribes the judge or the legal system is so bad that my case won't be heard for years? Hard to operate in such a manner.

Lastly, gov't itself can be the problem. I heard stories in countries like India, where it would take years to take out all the proper permits and licenses to start and operate a business.

It all boils down to structural problems. Technology and lack of money have nothing to do with it. The USA for a long time was not a world power. Now we are the greatest. But no one gave us money or technology to become so.

Answer 3

You see, third world countries are rich places, abundant in resources, and many of these countries have the capacity to feed their starving people and the children we always see digging for food in trash on commercials. But plutocracies, in other words a government run by the rich such as this one and traditionally oppressive European states, force the third world into buying overpriced, unnecessary goods while exporting huge portions of their natural resources.

Answer 4

Some third world countries are so controlled by corrupt government and corrupt churches , both desiring to keep the people in poverty so that they can have control over the people . Notice that neither the church nor the government officials are poor .