In all eras of humanity, some countries have economic power while others do not. After World War II came the label of First World to refer to the most developed countries in the world. Naturally, another denomination also appeared to refer to the most disadvantaged nations: the Third World.
In an intermediate field are countries that are in the process of developing, also known as emerging or Second World countries.
The human development index or HDI is the indicator used to determine the prosperity of a nation
So that this concept is not subjective , the HDI is treated as a statistical reference. This index is based on the following parameters: life expectancy, adult literacy rate and GDP per capita.
Even though the HDI shows variations over time, there are a number of nations that in recent decades have been part of the first world: Australia, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, United States, France, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Sweden and South Korea .
If we take the mentioned nations as a reference, we can observe a series of common elements:
1) a capitalist economic system ;
2) a high industrial and technological level;
3) advanced social indicators (eg, low illiteracy rates, social protection and access to leisure);
4) freedom of expression ;
5) political pluralism.
The problems of First World countries
Unemployment, food shortages and street violence are incompatible with a nation‘s economic prosperity. Citizens living in a First World country have a series of problems that from the point of view of Third World countries may seem ridiculous.
Some of these problems are: free access to wi-fi, obese children, lack of fruit in school canteens, scholarships study insufficient to study at university .
South Korea is an example of a First World country, since just over 50 years ago it was part of the Third World.
At the end of the Korean War in 1953, there was a division of the country into two nations: North Korea and South Korea. While the northern nation was isolated and impoverished, the southern one prospered and advanced.
Analysts believe that the economic miracle of the South Koreans can be explained by several reasons:
1) large family-controlled business groups (eg, the Lee family controls Samsung);
2) a state-protected but efficiently managed heavy industry;
3) an effective education system in which 5% of GDP is invested;
4) the impulse of new technologies;
5) the motivation of the population.
