Development involves both mental and social changes in a population that seeks to increase real and sustainable economic growth over time. It is a multidimensional process that requires reorganizing economic and social systems to improve quality of life. True development is long-term, participatory social change for the majority of a society through better understanding of their environment. It encompasses improvements in economic, social, political, security, cultural and social aspects of a whole society, not just economic indicators.

1. Development:
Definition, Meaning and
Concept
Prof. Deep Jagdeep Singh

2. Definition of Development
The combination of mental and social
changes among the population which
decide to increase its real and global
products, cumulatively and in
sustainable manner. PERROUX (1978)

3. Definition of Development
A multi-dimensional process involving the
reorganization and reorientation of the entire
economic and social systems. Development is a
physical reality and a state of mind in which society
has, through some combinations of social, economic
and political process secured the way of obtaining
better life. TODARO (1981)

4. Definition of Development
Development is a long participatory process
of social change in the society whose
objective is the material and social progress
for the majority of population through a
better understanding of their
environment.ROGERS (1990)

5. Definition of Development
Development is a broad term which should not be
limited to mean economic development, economic
welfare or material well being. Development in
general includes improvements in economic,
social and political aspects of whole society like
security, culture, social activities and political
institutions. TAYEBWA (1992)

6. Meaning of Development
Development is basically an economic concept it
involves the application of certain economic and
technical measures to utilize available resources
to instigate economic growth and improve
people’s quality of life.
~Mohamed Rabie, A Theory of Sustainable Sociocultural and Economic Development

7. Meaning of Development
In the 1950s and 1960s, development
was largely referred to as economic
growth, which meant a quantitative
rather than qualitative change in
economic performance.

8. Quantitative Change
Quantitative change, which looks at measurable
changes in a country’s development. These
changes can be measured by comparing a
country’s development at different times or by
comparing a country’s development with other
countries during a same period of time.

9. Qualitative Change
Qualitative change, which
reflects a new stage that is
different, in quality, from what
was happening before.

10. Concept of Development
Consequently, development theories were designed
to activate and accelerate the process of economic
growth and move developing nations along the path
charted by the industrial ones of the West, from
relying primarily on agricultural activity to relying
primarily on industrial production and trade.

11. Concept of Development
It is worth mentioning, however, that since my days as a
graduate student, I have argued that the “economic
development” concept was misconceived from the
beginning. No plan or amount of money can develop an
economy if it leaves out culture, which governs the attitudes
and the ways of thinking of the people who would be
managing the proposed development strategies and
programs.