Challenges of providing public goods in developing countries

Essay from the year 2015 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Topic: Development Politics, grade: 74%, Murdoch University (Murdoch University), course: Public Policy and International Affairs Foundations, language: English, abstract: The purpose of this essay is to examine the major challenges faced by developing countries in providing public goods.

Effective provision of public goods is paramount in fostering economic and social development. Citizens' access to public goods may, however, be hindered by many factors including; political, institutional, social and economic arrangements that pertain to certain countries. Despite the local efforts and international support towards the provision of public goods in developing regions, many developing countries still face numerous challenges in delivering public goods such as health, education and transport.

The essay will first define public goods and its associated theories, and then discuss six main factors that posea challenge in the provision of public goods in developing countries. In doing so, the essay will argue that the effective provision of public goods in developing countries is hampered by various challenges, making it difficult for citizens to access public goods or even participate collective action. These challenges include: insufficient resources; increasing human population; ethnic diversities; ineffective governance systems; institutional and political instability; and international agencies' dictates on the provision of public goods in developing countries.