Assignment 1

Development Economics



Submitted to: Sir Salman Sheikh
Group Members: Kunal Kumar Lohana
Muhammad Yousuf Amin
Hammad Qaiser
Submission Date: 24/09/2013
Russia and Brazil:

1. Poverty Head Count Ratio ( Number of people living below poverty line)
Brazil (%) Mexico (%)
2010 - 51.3
2009 21.4 -
2008 22.6 47.7
2007 24.2 -
2006 26.8 42.7


Comment: The graph clearly delineates the huge gap in poverty between two countries. It
demonstrates that while Mexicos GDP may be surging, the poverty has swept more than half of the
nation in its hands. On the other hand, Brazil has been gradually but slowly eliminating its
impoverishing conditions.



2. Fertility rate ( Number of children born to women between ages of 15-49)

Comment: The graph shows that the fertility rate in both the countries have been going down,
probably because of the increased awareness among people and modernization in both countries.
However, fertility rate has been more or less constant for few years in Mexico and observers assert
that it would go up in coming years due to escalation in poverty.
3. Population growth rate (per annum in percentage)

Comment: This graph is testimony to how Brazil saw a sharp decline in its population from 2003-
2008 but now has been constant in coming years. On the contrary, in the same period when the
population of Brazil was going up, Mexicos population was increasing at an alarming rate.
Thankfully, we see the stunted growth in recent years. So, it has come to still but not in decline.

4. Gross Enrollment Ratio in Primary Schools (Number of children enrolling in primary schools in
a year)



Comment: There is a generally a gradual improvement in the intake of primary schools in Mexico
but in the recent years we see that ratio has been going down and probable cause is the increase in
poverty levels which has led to the decline. Coming towards Brazil, there hasnt been any official
publication from the government, depicting the primary school ratio but according to world bank,
the ratio was reported at 142.1 in 2003 has significantly declined to 127.44. It is a huge disappointed
and may become a dooming factor in any important let down factor in the economy.

5. Patients to Hospital Beds Ratio per 1000 people


Comment: It is ironical that both of the countries do not have continuous data when it comes to health
sector. Therefore, the graph is scattered and distorted. Patients to hospitals ratio in Brazil is somewhere
close 2.5 but the graph indicates that it is falling whereas in Mexico, the results are positive.

6. Literacy Rate (Number of people who are literate divided by total population).



Comment: Referring to the primary school intake ratio, it was understood that the literacy rate in
Brazil would be low as compared to Mexico. The graph accentuates this point: Literacy rate has been
going up in Brazil but it is somewhere near to 90 whereas Mexico has suffered a subsequent decline
in recent years but it is still 93, more than Brazils.
7. Life expectancy ( in years)

Comment: The graph clearly puts forward its point, life expectancy in both countries have been
increasing due to improving condition. However, it also shows that over the years, the gap in the
ratio between the two countries has been shrunk. It must be due to the fast and quickly-
evolving infrastructure in Brazil.

8. Child mortality rate


Comment: As far as Child mortality rate is concerned, we see a HUGE improvement in both
countries, especially Brazil. Mexico was 21 and has gone down to 16 whereas Brazils rate was
26 and has come down to less than 15, which is biggest indication of such improvement in
health improvement.

9. Unemployment rate
Comment: This graph is eccentric than most of the graphs. Moreover, it also indicates the two very
extreme points of both countries in 2003, signifying the tremendous gap in the unemployment rate.
Brazil started out with as low as 3 whereas Mexicos unemployment rate was almost 10. Over the
years, we see the usual little highs and falls in the rate owing to the changes but there was a razor-
sharp rise in 2008 because of the great depression in the whole world.

10. Dependent Population to Total Population Ratio


Comment: There has been a huge decline in this ratio in both countries which emphasis on the fact
that more people, even old people, does not want to be reliant on anybody or to be specific, people
have become more real and understand gone are the days of hedonism. A big drop is observed in
Mexicos reliant population.