Many governments believe that economic progress should be prioritized the most, while some argue that there are other kinds of progress that are just as crucial. This essay attempts to shed light on both perspectives before concluding that I am in favor of the latter one.
On the one hand, there are many compelling reasons why the economic aspect is perceived as the top consideration by many governments. Firstly, having strong monetary foundations will assist countries in overcoming challenges. Moreover, without financial stability, nations might become extremely vulnerable when encountering external crises, which are likely to result in high rates of unemployment and poverty or an increase in the crime rate, therefore reducing the residents’ overall quality of life. Secondly, when countries are in positive economic conditions, chances are there are more funds to grow other sectors like education, healthcare, laws, and so on. For example, Singapore has always been well known for its cleanliness, quality public service, and developed infrastructure as a bright impact of its strong economy.
On the other hand, I believe that success in the development of countries also accounts for the progress in other factors such as education and healthcare. One rationale for this is that highly educated workers will contribute to sustainable development. In this modern era where innovation and creativity have a dominant role in nations’ potential, providing people with opportunities for proper education will make them nurture such qualities, thus creating generations of competent workers that can help to maintain the nations’ development. Another rationale is that good health and well-being of humans is of greater importance than just money. Although Japan is one of the leading countries regarding the economy in the world, its happiness index often lies at the lowest rate, supposedly due to the fact of harsh working traditions and ethics, social pressure, and other cultural factors of not seeking help for emotional issues. As a result, the nation is known for high suicide rate, mostly accounted for as a consequence of overworking.
In conclusion, while it is undeniable that focusing on the economic element should provide many upsides, I would contend that progress in other sectors such as education and healthcare should also be considered as a measure for countries’ development success.