Madagascar

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Recommended: Effects of imperialism in madagascar

Ranked number 68 on the Failed State Index of 2010 and 135 on the Human Development Index out of 169 countries and areas, Madagascar is considered to be at a low human development level. ( 2,4) Madagascar’s development situation is the product of a history of corrupt government and neocolonialism. Madagascar has been labeled a “developing” country because of its current conditions.

Over the past few decades, Madagascar’s life expectancy at birth and expected years of school have both been rising, but Gross national income (GNI) per capita has been falling. (3) Madagascar’s Economic situation is that of a developing nation with opportunity. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was at $958 in 2008 with 67.83% of the population living below $1.25 per day. (4) The total GDP in 2010 was $20.73 billion, with a growth rate of 1.5%. (1) Madagascar has a population of 21,926,221 (July 2011 est.) and the distribution of wealth is significantly divided. The lowest 10% of the country receives only 2.6% of the income, while the highest 10% earns 41.5%. (1) The remaining percentage of income is believed to be in the hands of the top 20% of the population. This large division in income distribution is a key reason for the country being listed as developing. Madagascar has many industries including: meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum and tourism. (1) Agriculture accounts for more than one-fourth of the GDP and employs 80% of Madagascar’s population. However, deforestation has led to erosion which has fueled serious concerns over well being of agriculture industries. A 50% drop in the tourist industry along with political turmoil has caused ...

... middle of paper ...

...scar’s ability to export and handle the effects of current neocolonialism can only be addressed by Madagascar’s government. Those living in poverty have the numbers to challenge the status quo, but currently the strength is not there. Providing more food and extra income may be give the means to increasing their strength.

Works Cited

1 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ma.html

2 http://www.fundforpeace.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Itemid=140

3 http://hdrstats.undp.org/images/explanations/MDG.pdf

4 http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/MDG.html

5 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html

6 http://www.wildmadagascar.org/history/

7 http://www.beppegrillo.it/eng/2008/11/madagascar_daewoo_and_neocolon.html

8 http://www.agoa.info/?view=.&story=news&subtext=1383

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