Developed countries

After the consolidation of capitalism and especially after globalization, the cultural differences between countries tended to narrow a lot, and it is not surprising to affirm that despite the enormous distances, the different nations began to resemble each other more and more. However, certain differences were worsening, such as those referred toeconomic development.

The developing, to growth difference, it is not the increase or decrease in national income. On the contrary, the name of development recognizes the creating an environment so that people can realize their possibilities successfully, and live productively according to their needs and interests.

If economic growth is the most efficient realization of the productive capacities of a country, development is the most equitable for which the entire community has the capacity to function.

The developed countries They are precisely the ones that offer the best results in this regard. The criterion for quantifying this development is rather problematic and an axis of discussion, unlike the case of growth where the Gross Domestic Product stands out compared to the other indicators, despite its shortcomings.

The Human development Index It is an indicator that has reached quite a lot of consensus, since it takes into account three fundamental parameters: long and healthy life, education and a decent standard of living. It is a global indicator whose maximum is 1 and minimum is 0, and in 2008 Iceland reached first place (with 0.968). Thus, the countries with the highest life expectancy, with the highest level of access to education and health (these two being of quality), and also with the highest level of per capita product (development is complemented by growth) will be the more developed.

There are other characteristics that are specific to developed countries:

• Industrialization: It is common for the economy of developed countries not to depend heavily on agricultural or livestock products. In this way, its economic growth has more to do with the human capacity for transformation, outside the limitations of nature.
• Basic services: The levels of access to electricity, gas and water are total, or practically total.
• HealthBy virtue of the latter, life expectancy and deaths from various diseases are often much lower in these countries.
• Literacy and schooling: As said, access to education must be high and of quality. In some developed countries education is public, while in others the private sector is in charge. In cases where the State takes charge, the tax rates are rather high but the population does not give up paying them.
• Finance: The financial system is usually more stable and does not have as many crises. This is what generates a circle whereby the most serious companies choose the developed country to invest, which strengthens the system and is replicated.

As the criteria for defining development are not unique, neither is the list of developed countries. The following is the most ‘demanding’ list which is the one with the fewest countries: that of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD):