What are the challenges of providing public goods in developing countries? Developing countries and the problems of service delivery

Essay from the year 2015 in the subject Sociology - Economy and Industry, grade: D+, Murdoch University, course: Development Studies, language: English, abstract: Comparatively, most countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are endowed with natural resources, such as bauxite, diamond, gold and oil, than other countries in the developed world.

However, in the midst of these resources potential, most of the countries are said to be poor, and fall sharply behind in the provision of essential services to improve the lives of their citizens. So, why are the services inadequately provided?

In fact, several studies have underscored that international development interventions aimed at promoting governmental and institutional structures have been the source for much of the unfolding problems affecting development in the third world (Booth 2011, Törnquist et al. 1961-2004).

On the contrary, several studies have argued that problems, such as corruption, weak institutional system, diverse population and ethnic polarisation in developing countries obscure the attainment of adequate delivery of public services. Interestingly, though both arguments hold different perceptions, they present fundamental issues affecting the creation of essential public goods in the developing countries.

Given the divergence in viewpoints, this essay will argue that even though International policy implementation may pose particular challenges, the greater part of the problems affecting the provision of public goods are inherent in the developing nations. Thus, this essay discusses the main compelling challenges, such as international development policies, corruption, imperfect communication and lack of citizens¿ participation, population and ethnic division and institutional and political systems that are responsible for the under-provision of public goods in developing countries.

This article essay will first analyse the concept of public goods and collective action problem in providing and distributing public resources. In the final analysis, it will offer a concise summary of main issues discussed in this paper.