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The Proliferation of Developing Country Classifications

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  • Djalita Fialho
  • Peter A. G. Van Bergeijk

Abstract

We study the external and internal proliferation of country classifications in development policy. The number of classifications increased from four (1985) to 17 (2013) when the average in our sample of 111 developing countries exceeded three classifications per country. Based on historical overview and comparative case study for land-locked development countries and small-island development states (geographically defined classifications without overlap) we find that internal proliferation is associated with lacking a clear rationale, no definition of country characteristics, and possibly the direct involvement of developing countries in designing the category. External proliferation may reflect antinomic delegation, geopolitical and bureaucratic motives.

Suggested Citation

  • Djalita Fialho & Peter A. G. Van Bergeijk, 2017. "The Proliferation of Developing Country Classifications," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(1), pages 99-115, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:53:y:2017:i:1:p:99-115
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2016.1178383
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patrick Guillaumont, 2009. "Caught in a trap. Identifying the least developed countries," Post-Print hal-00436331, HAL.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bagdasaryan Kniaz, 2021. "Пересмотр Критериев Присвоения Статуса Развивающейся Страны," Russian Economic Development (in Russian), Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, issue 11, pages 33-38, November.
    2. Bagdasaryan Kniaz, 2021. "Revision of Developing Country Status Determination Criterias [Пересмотр Критериев Присвоения Статуса Развивающейся Страны]," Russian Economic Development, Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, issue 11, pages 33-38, November.
    3. Deborah Barros Leal Farias, 2023. "Country differentiation in the global environmental context: Who is ‘developing’ and according to what?," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 253-269, September.
    4. Cícero, Vinicius Curti & Lima, Gilberto Tadeu, 2023. "Functional distribution of income as a determinant of importing behavior: An empirical analysis," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 393-405.
    5. Rory Horner & David Hulme, 2019. "From International to Global Development: New Geographies of 21st Century Development," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 50(2), pages 347-378, March.
    6. Vic Benuyenah, 2024. "Economies as 'Makers' or 'Users': Rectifying the Polysemic Quandary with a Dualist Taxonomy," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 3100-3121, March.
    7. Alice Nicole Sindzingre, 2025. "Economic Development as a Concept: Fissiparity Rather than Teleology? Introduction," Post-Print hal-05571516, HAL.
    8. Li, C. & van Bergeijk, P.A.G., 2016. "Do natural disasters stimulate international trade?," ISS Working Papers - General Series 622, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    9. Peter A.G. van Bergeijk, 2019. "Deglobalization 2.0," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 18560.

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