ECON 372: Comparative Economic Systems

HW1 25 pts

Q1. This assignment is for data collection (10 points) and data analysis (15 points) of at least ten countries to be selected by individual students from 5 continents regarding their economic, political, institutional, demographic, and social structure.

Select at least 10 countries (including the country you select for writing your research paper) with a combination of low income, high income and middle income countries from the five continents. Make a table using the template below to include information in the table.

Country

Population

Income

GDP

Econo

Income

Political

HDI

% of

and/Population

category

Growth

mic

Distribution

system

people

density

rate and

System

Gini

and

have

GDP per

Coefficient

Economic

access to

capita

System

Internet

Source: (You must give sources of data here that collected).

Based on the information gathered and filled out in the Table, analyze the following aspects: Critically and analytically write a brief essay about economic performances of the countries you have selected reflecting economic systems, demographic, political, and social characteristics.

Your analysis should also indicate a brief historical transformation of economic systems since the end of the WWII, along with the challenges these countries are currently facing for further economic progress. The contents of your analysis are expected to demonstrate not only the data you will have displayed in the above table, but also a combination of qualitative and numerical data analysis from the table.

Some suggested URL Links for collecting data (not limited to): www.Worldbank.org

http://data.worldbank.org/news/newest-country-classifications-released

The page: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD

http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups

www.Imf.org www.oecd.org www.undp.org www.cia.gov

Criteria of income classification of countries: http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications