Economic Development, Population and the Cameroon Economy
Economic development tests the difference between growth and development, population structure, poverty and the structure of the Cameroonian economy. Questions often require a dependency ratio or per capita income calculation and an evaluation of government development strategy.
Growth and development
Growth is a rise in real GDP; development is broader and includes income distribution, health, education, employment and living standards. The Human Development Index combines income per head, life expectancy and education. Development also involves structural change from agriculture to industry and services.
Population
Population structure is shown by age and sex. The dependency ratio = dependents (under 15 plus over 65) ÷ working-age population × 100. A high dependency ratio burdens workers and public services. Population growth can expand markets and labour supply but may outpace jobs, schools and health services. Migration and urbanisation affect labour and housing.
The Cameroon economy
Cameroon's economy relies on agriculture (cocoa, coffee, cotton, timber), oil and gas, and services. The informal sector is large. Government strategies include Vision 2035 and the National Development Strategy 2030 (NDS30), targeting structural transformation, infrastructure and human capital. Constraints include poor infrastructure, corruption, dependence on oil and primary exports, and underemployment.
Worked example
A country has 25 million people: 10 million under 15, 1 million over 65 and 14 million aged 15–64. Dependents = 11 million. Dependency ratio = 11 ÷ 14 × 100 = 78.6%. If real GDP is 7,000 billion CFA, GDP per head = 7,000 billion ÷ 25 million = 280,000 CFA. A fall in the birth rate would eventually lower the dependency ratio, but only after the working-age group grows.
Traps that cost marks
Do not treat growth as development; do not say a large population is always a disadvantage; and do not calculate the dependency ratio as dependents divided by total population. Also do not use nominal GDP per head to compare welfare over time, and do not ignore informal activity when judging employment.