Over the past two centuries there has been extensive economic growth in many parts of the world. The industrial and communications revolutions have massively increased productivity and the affordability of goods. This has helped to improve basic living conditions but has also reduced leisure time and increased pollution.
For some countries, economic growth has raised the general standard of living. It has created more business and work, thus helping to reduce unemployment by providing people with more job or career opportunities. Economic development has also resulted in more availability of consumer goods and services. Not only are customers exposed to a greater variety of products, but also many of them are now able to buy items that were once unaffordable. For example, fifty years ago many people were unable to afford adequate housing, education, or transport, yet today most households can do so.
However, for some people, the pursuit of economic development has also taken away much of their leisure time. The desire to make money, and faster communication, has made businesses more competitive and accelerated the speed at which they operate. This has created a faster pace of life but more sedentary work conditions and more stress, leaving people with less time for leisure activities and personal relationships.
Furthermore, economic development has implications for society as a whole. Although economic growth accelerates the expansion of towns and cities, resulting in the development of more factories and other industries, it also results in greater levels of pollution. An increasing urban population also means that more vehicles are being used for transportation, which creates further pollution.
In conclusion, although economic growth can promote positive social changes, these changes are not always entirely beneficial to individuals or to society, and will require great effort to avoid more deleterious effects on health and well-being.
Over the past two centuries there has been extensive
economic
growth
in
many
parts of the world. The industrial and communications revolutions have
massively
increased productivity and the affordability of
goods
. This has
helped
to
improve
basic living conditions
but
has
also
reduced
leisure time and increased pollution.
For
some
countries,
economic
growth
has raised the general standard of living. It has created more business and work,
thus
helping to
reduce
unemployment by providing
people
with more job or career opportunities.
Economic
development
has
also
resulted in more availability of consumer
goods
and services. Not
only
are customers exposed to a greater variety of products,
but
also
many
of them are
now
able to
buy
items that were once unaffordable.
For example
, fifty years ago
many
people
were unable to afford adequate housing, education, or transport,
yet
today
most households can do
so
.
However
, for
some
people
, the pursuit of
economic
development
has
also
taken away much of their leisure time. The desire to
make
money, and faster communication, has made businesses more competitive and accelerated the speed at which they operate. This has created a faster pace of life
but
more sedentary work conditions and more
stress
, leaving
people
with less time for leisure activities and personal relationships.
Furthermore
,
economic
development
has implications for society as a whole. Although
economic
growth
accelerates the expansion of towns and cities, resulting in the
development
of more factories and other industries, it
also
results in greater levels of pollution. An increasing urban population
also
means that more vehicles are being
used
for transportation, which creates
further
pollution.
In conclusion
, although
economic
growth
can promote
positive
social
changes
, these
changes
are not always
entirely
beneficial to individuals or to society, and will require great effort to avoid more deleterious effects on health and well-being.