First-world economies and Third-world economies
First-world economies have political prosperity, which provides a competitive climate for industry and increases GDP. Literacy rates are very high in those countries, and life expectancy is very high due to the country's economic prosperity, which makes basic goods accessible. Furthermore, the states profit from technological advancements and have their own markets, reducing their dependence on foreign countries. Among these countries are the United States, Canada, and Denmark. Third-world economies, on the other hand, have a low GDP due to the country's weak financial situation. Such states have a high mortality rate due to the inability of the population to access basic needs as well as healthcare. Third World Countries have a high level of unemployment making the governments depend on foreign aid for survival. Such countries include Togo, Afghanistan, and guinea among others.
Geography
Afghanistan is a country covering 652,000 square kilometers in the continent of Asia. Afghanistan is a landlocked country surrounded by Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Most of the country has a height of 1,800 meters above sea level making the region suitable for grazing goats and camels. However, the climate is arid for farming. On the other hand, Canada is a country in North America with access to the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. The country is 9.98 million square kilometers wide and has four climatic conditions namely summer, spring, autumn, and winter. The climate makes the country one of the largest exporters of agriculture in the world.
Economy
The GDP of Afghanistan is 19.47 billion USD with GDP per capita being 561.78 USD. The country is the 42nd concerning population with 35 million people. The budget in the country stands at 7.331 billion USD with 61% catering for the operational budget and 39% for development in the country. Currently, the state has an employment of 40% with the agricultural industry employing 80% of the employed population. The FDI for the country is 0%. The main imports are machinery and petroleum products while the exports are farm produce such as cotton and fruits. For Canada, the unemployment rate stands at 6% with agriculture employing 1.8% of the population. The country is a massive exporter of petroleum products and natural gas while importing machinery and equipment. The FDI in the country is 825 billion USD translating to 4.7% of the GDP. The GDP in the country is 1.53 trillion USD (The World Bank).
Politics
Afghanistan is a former colony of the British. However, the Britain government experienced challenges in capturing the country leading to an early independence in 1709. Afghanistan is an Islamic State under the leadership of the President. However, the country faces challenges in political stability due to the fights between the Taliban Forces government forces. In Canada, the government is a federal monarchy under the leadership of the queen and the prime minister. The country is a former colony of the Britain that gained independence in 1867. Canada has a stable government without any internal or external conflict.
Culture
The leading ethnic group in Afghanistan is the Pashtun who make up for 42% of the population (Schiffman 51). The official languages spoken in the country are Pashto and Dari. For the sign language, the official language is Afghan Sign Language. The Tajik and the Hazara form the second and third largest ethnic groups respectively. In Canada, the Canadians form the largest ethnic group followed by the English and the French. The official languages are English and French for the country. However, the languages spoken in the country are English, French, Italian and German as characterized by the diverse population.
Human Development
The literacy levels in Afghanistan stand at 38.2% for the whole population. In the percentage, 52% represent the men and 48% for the women. The life expectancy limits in the country stand at 60.72 years while the infant mortality is as high as 257 deaths per 1000 births. The nation loses more than 500 people to HIV/AIDS every year. Afghanistan has a high rate of the crime index is 74.96. The percentage of women holding elective seats is 4.2%. In Canada, the infant mortality rate is 4.6 deaths for 1000 births. The literacy level is 99% for both men and women. The life expectancy stands at 82.14 years with deaths related to HIV/AIDS being 1000 per year. The percentage of women in elective seats stands at 26% for Canada.
Comparative Analysis
The difference between Afghanistan and Canada is very massive. Canada has high development as signified by the GDP and the level of unemployment in the country. Some of the causes of underdevelopment of third world countries include low education. Third-world countries have little literacy levels limiting the number of technological inventions in the country. Therefore, they rely on developed nations for a solution to their challenges. Secondly, the countries suffer from poverty. Most developing countries cannot afford machinery for food production such as irrigation systems. Therefore, the drylands remain underutilized, and dependence on natural rainfall leads to higher poverty. In case of a dry climate, the countries end up depending on foreign help to feed the population. Lastly, third-world countries such as Afghanistan have unstable governments. The instability makes it hard for the people to grow their economy through industrial activities and business. Investors fear such countries due to the inadequate levels of security. Therefore, the nations cannot capitalize on their minerals because of the lack of a proper environment for business.
First world countries
First-world countries enjoy unlimited literacy levels for the population. Therefore, the countries are in a position to invent solutions for their problems due to affordability. The high GDP arises from the low levels of unemployment. Such states have stable governments, which attract investors to the land increasing the flow of income in the country. Secondly, first-world countries have established industries. The industries employ the people as well as foreign exchange through the exported products. Such sectors generate income for the nation, which funds scientific experiments for health stability. Lastly, First-world country possesses technology that helps them in maximizing their natural resources. For example, Canada enjoys a massive supply of petroleum products. However, they do not rely on foreign help such as countries in Africa. Their technology helps them in maximizing the resources and improving the lives of the population using the income.
The biggest challenge for Afghanistan
The biggest challenge for Afghanistan is government stability (Stiglitz and Mary 137). The militant groups make it hard for the country to attain economic stability. The Taliban receives financial reinforcement from other terror groups in the country making it impossible for the military to fight the group. More so, the fragile insecurity repels the investors from the country leading to increased poverty. Therefore, the most significant hindrance for development in Afghanistan is the fragile stability of the government caused by the Taliban.
Work Cited
Schiffman, Harold F. Language policy and language conflict in Afghanistan and its neighbors : the changing politics of language choice. Leiden Boston: Brill, 2012. Print.
Stiglitz, Joseph E., and Mary Kaldor. The quest for security : protection without protectionism and the challenge of global governance. New York: Columbia University Press, 2013. Print.
The World Bank. “Afghanistan Data.” The World bank, 2016, data.worldbank.org/country/afghanistan.
