In this section, the concepts of growth and development are elucidated. Growth is described as a quantitative change that can be either positive or negative, while development is a qualitative change characterized as always beneficial. For example, a city's population may grow, but without accompanying improvements in infrastructure or quality of life, this growth does not translate into development.
Historically, the level of a country's development was predominantly assessed through its economic growth GDP measures, overlooking the actual living conditions of its populace. Influential economists, Mahbub-ul-Haq and Amartya Sen, introduced the concept of human development, emphasizing that true development should enhance people's choices and freedoms, enabling a meaningful existence. The Human Development Index reflects this ideology by measuring indicators related to health, education, and income.
The section further explores how the lack of capabilities, such as education and resources, constrains people's choices, thereby limiting their potential for personal development and leading to an understanding that development must include socio-economic contexts.