Rwanda's Development Challenges: Historical, Economic & Social Factors

Historical, Economic, and Social Factors in Rwanda's Development

Historical Reason: Rwanda's period as a Belgian colony for over fifty years significantly impacted its development. Profits were often repatriated to Belgium, hindering local investment and growth.

Economic Reason: The prevalence of HIV/AIDS affects a substantial portion of the population. This reduces the workforce, decreases tax revenue, and increases government healthcare expenditure.

Social Reason: Improved living conditions and public health initiatives in developed nations reduce the spread of diseases.

Environmental Reason: Cooler climates can reduce the prevalence of certain viruses and insects, potentially impacting public health.

Human Development Index (HDI)

First calculated in 1975 and published annually by the United Nations, the HDI ranks nations according to their citizens' quality of life, not just economic measurements.

Three Dimensions of HDI:

1. A long and healthy life – measured by Life Expectancy at birth.
2. Knowledge – measured by Adult Literacy Rate and combined school enrollment.
3. A decent standard of living – measured by Per Capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is the total amount of money a country has divided by its population.

Vulnerability to Tectonic Hazards in Developing Countries

In the developing world, people are at greater risk from tectonic hazards than those in developed countries:

• They often live in risky locations because there is nowhere else to live.
• They can't afford safe, well-built houses. Buildings often collapse.
• They don't have insurance.
• Their governments don't have the money and resources to provide aid.
• Communications are poor, so warning and evacuation may not happen.

Reasons People Live Near Volcanoes

Many people live near volcanoes for various reasons:

• Thermal springs near volcanoes are tourist attractions.
• The ash from volcanoes makes the land very fertile.
• Volcanoes are visually appealing.
• In densely populated countries, there may be nowhere else to live.
• Energy from the super-heated steam can be used to produce power (geothermal energy).
• There may be important things near the volcano, such as religious buildings or good fishing areas.
• There are often lots of valuable minerals under the ground near volcanoes.
• If a volcano has not erupted for a long time, people might think it is safe to live near it.