Who is behind it and why It's hard to imagine today any major economic development effort out of modern countries still being performed the way it was in the 1950s. At that time, there was still a bit of a pioneer or cowboy approach to visiting and helping out third world countries. Today, development efforts from the U.S. go through professional committee and organization structures, distributing billions of federal dollars to hundreds of locations worldwide. Many of these programs utilize grant models for funding distribution, allow multiple layers of involvement from their own personnel to target government involvement as well. The political arena is still alive and strong as well. Western nations still actively offer development help in exchange for political positioning and relationships as well as territory access otherwise not allowed. Many view it as a necessary evil and simply part of the nature of governments dealing with governments. Others hope that some percentage of the funds can actually be delivered to true and real needs rather than just propping up weak governments in foreign countries. Beneath these two layers operate thousands of non-profit organizations that also focus on various aims and interests, providing development help to some of the most remote communities. It is this layer that still does much of the groundwork, taking on the risks in dangerous areas that official government efforts might not want to venture into. The non-profit layer also takes advantage of many of the grant programs offered by government agencies, offering to be the hands and feet of such development efforts in exchange of having the funds funneled through them. Summary Economic development represents just one tool a country or organization can provide to a region in need. Depending on who is providing the "giving," the benefits can be associated with general improvement or they can be provided for the purposes of political interests. Many times, such programs tend to combine interests, providing both a means to improve an area's standard of living as well as a conduit for influence support. The question today, however, is how modern economic development fits into the global economy. Do the old rules of exchanging access for help still apply, or is the world now more of an open game for anyone who has the dollars to buy what's needed as necessary? That question remains and is becoming more apparent as raw resources fall into higher demand. Both India and China are now entering full industrialization, significantly driving up demand for resources that they previously never needed. In return, they are following the historical footsteps of the U.S., offering economic development to less-developed countries in exchange for resource access. In each case, the same issues arise as to whether the money is worth the improvements received. Many of the recipient countries still believe it is, especially when no one else may be providing anything at all locally. Home - Definition Economic & Political Goals Sales or Development? The Pros & Cons Who & Why? Privacy Policy Who implements economic development plans and why.