In all times of humanity, some countries have economic power while others do not. After World War II, the First World label emerged to refer to the most developed nations on the planet. Obviously, another name also appeared to refer to the most disadvantaged nations: the Third World. Between some nations and others are those that are developing, also known as emerging or Second World countries.
The Human Development Index or HDI is the indicator used to determine the prosperity of a nation
So that the concept of First World is not subjective, the HDI is used as a statistical reference. This index is based on the following parameters: life expectancy, the literacy rate of the adult population, and GDP per capita.
Although the HDI varies over time, there are a number of nations that have been part of the first world in recent decades: Australia, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Sweden or South Korea. If we take the aforementioned nations as a reference, a series of common elements can be seen:
1) a capitalist economic system,
2) a high industrial and technological level,
3) advanced social indicators (for example, low illiteracy rates, social protection and access to leisure),
4) freedom of expression and
5) political pluralism.
The problems of first world countries
Unemployment, lack of food and violence in the streets are incompatible with the economic prosperity of a nation. Citizens living in a first world country have a number of problems that, from a third world perspective, might seem ridiculous.
Some of them are the following: free access to wi-fi, childhood obesity, lack of fruit in school canteens, bottles or insufficient scholarships to study at university.
South Korea is an example of a first world country that 50 years ago was part of the third world
At the end of the Korean War in 1953, the country was divided into two nations: North Korea and South Korea. While the northern nation is isolated and impoverished, the southern nation is prosperous and advanced.
Analysts believe that the economic miracle of the South Koreans can be explained by several reasons:
1) large family-controlled business groups (for example, Samsung is controlled by the Lee family),
2) a heavy industry protected by the state but managed efficiently,
3) an efficient educational system in which 5% of GDP is invested,
4) the promotion of new technologies and
5) the motivation of the population.
Photo: Fotolia - carlosgardel
