Compare and contrast a country from Africa to one from South America explaining why they have developed.
The economic development of Argentina
Overview
With a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than US$490 billion Argentina is one of the largest economies in Latin America. Argentina's economy is characterized by its valuable natural resources, leading the country to be one of the main producers of food, thanks to agriculture and cattle breeding. Argentina is one of the largest exporters of beef in the world and the top world producer of sunflower crops, yerba mate, lemons, and soybean oil. The opening of the Chinese market represents a boost in the consolidation of an export profile
The country has grown steadily during the past decade and has invested heavily in health and education, areas which account for 8% and 6% of GDP respectively. Between 2003 and 2009, the middle class doubled from 9.3 million to 18.6 million (equivalent to 45 % of the population).
Strategy
The World Bank is currently working with the Argentinean government in developing a new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS). Currently, active projects address three key areas:
Sustainable growth with equity
Social inclusion
Improved governance
This can then be divided into further into
Upgrade infrastructure to address potential bottlenecks to competitiveness and to underpin medium-term growth and poverty alleviation.
Improve competitiveness, quality, and exports of agriculture and livestock production.
Address a growing problem of natural resource degradation.
Consolidate and expand progress in reducing poverty by increasing household incomes and integrating marginalized groups into the productive marketplace.
Consolidate improvements in health indicators.
Strengthen the effectiveness, efficiency, transparency and accountability of the public sector.
Expand performance management and improve the quality of public expenditure
Enhance service delivery outcomes and trust in institutions.
Results
Argentina currently has a portfolio of 20 projects totaling US$4.9 billion in credits and four important GEF donations of US$28.6 million. The World Bank's involvement includes a wide array of projects in areas such as environment, health, education, infrastructure, social protection and labor, among others.
The provinces of Catamarca, Chaco, Corrientes, Formosa, Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán and Santiago del Estero, which as a group are home to 7.5 million people, receive the support of the Norte Grande National Development Program, including World Bank financing of US$800 million for a Water Project and a Road Project.
Social safety nets are the focus of a financing of US$480 million for the Basic Protection Project, which aims to increase the effectiveness of Argentina's income transfer programs for the unemployed and families with children, including the Universal Child Allowance.
The Provincial Public Health Insurance Development Project (US$400 million) will improve access to health coverage for 70% of people without health insurance. This initiative complements Plan Nacer, which emphasizes performance based transfers in Argentina's health system, with immediate attention to the health needs of poor mothers and children. Finally, the Essential Public Health Functions project (U$461 million) focuses on seven health programs including chronic diseases, safe blood, HIV and others.
In the environmental area, the Matanza-Riachuelo Basin Sustainable Development Project provides $840 million in assistance to clean up the notoriously polluted river basin by improving sewage services and expanding treatment capacity.
In the City of Buenos Aires, the Bank supports the main hydraulic works, through the Urban Flood Prevention and Drainage Project (US$130 million), which has improved the ability of Arroyo Maldonado drainage system to prevent flooding in several neighborhoods of the city.
The Program to Promote Productive