Meta Description: there are so many indicators of economic development, and more are being introduced into the system as the day goes by.
There are signs of every economic, social, or political change in any environment or country. Economically, there are obvious indicators that things are going well in a particular economy, the same applies if things start going south.
Some of these signs may be seen in some of the nation’s financial institutions, while other times, indicators of economic development like income per capita, growth in GDP, etc, can also be a very good indicator of a booming economy.
These signs of economic development are necessary for the proper evaluation of general growth in any country. Reading meaning into these signs helps every government or business plan for the future. For countries, signs of growth like this will compel them to upgrade the already existing infrastructure to suit the new standard of their growing economic class.
On the side of businesses and other cooperate entities, a careful study of these signs allows them to make the best product decisions. This will enable them to choose the right products that suit the new market which will probably be needing more classy, luxurious products.
Having established this fact, the question should be what are those obvious signs of economic development that every financially-conscious business or government should look out for, or use as indicators of economic development? Below, we have listed some of them, please follow.
3 Major Signs of Economic Development
1. High Employment Rate
A practical example of this is the G5 member nations which comprise the United States, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Japan, and France. These are the top industrial developed countries in the world, with their unemployment rate at its barest minimum. On a more practical note, the unemployment rate in the United States is currently at 3.5%, Japan at 2.80%, France at 7%, the United Kingdom at 3.7%, and Germany at 3%.
2. Low Inflation Rate
A low inflation rate in any country is a good point that all is well with them. It shows that the country is heading to an economic boom. Inflation happens when there is less money in circulation, so, as a government, a situation like this (when the inflation rate is low) is good to prove that the country’s financial intelligence unit is doing a good job in the economy. Some of the countries with the lowest inflation rate include
• Maldives — -0.2%.
• Gabon — 0.6%.
• Japan — 0.6%.
• Bahrain — 0.7%.
• Fiji — 0.8%.
• Vanuatu — 0.9%
3. High Purchasing Power
When there are high retail sales, it means the residents of the country are buoyant enough to afford their needs. This can only happen in a country where the residents earn high wages and incomes. Practical examples of such countries are Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, and the United States. Data shows that worker in these countries have an average monthly salary of $6,142.1, $4,350.79, $4,218.89, and $3,721.64 respectively (source: CEOWorld Magazine).
Does Economic Growth Lead to Economic Development?
Yes, it does. Good indicators of economic development are a good omen to any country working to gain economic advantage.
When a country starts experiencing growth in vital economic areas like consumer spending, consumer confidence index, consumer price index, interest rates, and high industrial production, it is normal to see other area infrastructures grow with it. In a nutshell, economic growth in any country is a catalyst for economic development.
Final Thought
As countries continue to ensure overall growth in their existence, the economic or financial sector is always the major focus. This is why they have, through their various economic units like the ministry of finance and economic development come out with modalities to fast-track such developmental policies.
Finally, it is also advised that countries or corporations looking to improve their development, must stick to those relevant indicators of economic development.