Class 9 (Economics)
Chapter 2 (People
as Resource)
Notes
1. Introduction
The population
of a nation has the potential to serve as an asset rather than a burden.
The concept of
"People as resource" pertains to a nation's workforce in terms of
their existing productive skills and abilities.
3. Non-Economic
Activities:
Non-economic
activities, on the other hand, are those not pursued for monetary profit. They
are often referred to as unpaid activities and include practices such as
religious rituals, household chores, charitable acts like aiding the needy or
disabled, and similar endeavors.
Economic
activities are typically divided into three sectors: the primary sector, the
secondary sector, and the tertiary sector.
The secondary
sector encompasses
manufacturing, including both small-scale and large-scale production, as well
as construction activities.
The tertiary
sector, also known as the service sector, comprises a wide range of services such as
transportation, education, banking, insurance, healthcare, tourism, and more.
5. Quality of
Population:
The quality of
a population is determined by factors such as literacy rate, life expectancy,
and the acquisition of skills by individuals within the country.
Education's
Role:
Education plays
a pivotal role in human resource development, contributing significantly to
societal growth, enhancing national income, enriching cultural diversity, and
improving governance efficiency.
Government
spending on education as a percentage of GDP has increased over the years, from
0.64% in 1951-52 to 3.98% in 2002-03, with the national goal set at 6% of GDP.
Disparities
exist in literacy rates between genders and across urban and rural areas, with
urban populations typically exhibiting higher literacy rates.
Initiatives
like the "Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan" aim to provide elementary
education to all children below the age of 14.
Health:
Health is
another crucial aspect of human resource development, as the efficiency of
workers is greatly influenced by their health status.
While there has
been notable improvement in the country's health standards, challenges remain,
such as addressing infant mortality rates and further enhancing the healthcare
infrastructure.
6. Unemployment:
Unemployment occurs when individuals willing to work at
prevailing wage rates are unable to secure employment.
Typically, unemployed individuals are those within the
age bracket of 15 to 59 years.
Children below the age of 15 and elderly individuals
above 60 are not considered when calculating unemployment rates.
Nature of Unemployment in India:
Seasonal unemployment arises when individuals are unable
to find work during certain months of the year, particularly during off-season
periods. This type of unemployment is commonly experienced by agricultural labourers.
Disguised unemployment is prevalent in rural areas and is attributed to the
overpopulation of the agricultural sector. It occurs when there are more
workers engaged in a job than necessary, resulting in surplus labor that is
essentially disguisedly unemployed.
Consequences of Unemployment:
(i) Unemployment results in the inefficient
utilization of manpower resources.
(ii) It contributes to an economic burden, with
unemployed individuals becoming increasingly dependent on the working
population.
(iii) Unemployment can lead to heightened social
unrest and tension within society.
Important Question answers
Question 1: What is meant by
'people as a resource'?
Answer:
'People as a resource' refers to the country's working population in terms of
their existing productive skills and abilities.
Question 2: How does human
resource differ from other resources like land and physical capital?
Answer:
Human resource utilizes other resources like land and physical capital to generate
output. Unlike land and physical capital, human resource cannot become
productive on its own, making it superior to other resources.
Question 3: What role does
education play in human capital formation?
Answer:
Education is crucial for human capital formation as it provides individuals
with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute to economic productivity.
It enhances individual productivity, contributes to economic growth, and
fosters national consciousness.
Question 4: How does health
contribute to human capital formation?
Answer:
Health plays a vital role in human capital formation by enabling individuals to
realize their full potential and productivity. A healthy workforce is essential
for economic development, as it leads to higher efficiency and productivity.
Question 5: What impact does
health have on an individual's working life?
Answer:
Health significantly affects an individual's working life as it directly
influences their productivity and efficiency. Healthy individuals are better equipped
to perform their job responsibilities compared to unhealthy individuals,
resulting in higher output and performance.
Question 6: What are the
various activities undertaken in the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors?
Answer: The
primary sector includes activities such as agriculture, forestry, animal
husbandry, fishing, poultry farming, and mining. The secondary sector comprises
manufacturing and construction activities. The tertiary sector encompasses
services like trade, transport, education, banking, healthcare, tourism, and
more.
Question 7: What
distinguishes economic activities from non-economic activities?
Answer:
Economic activities are undertaken for monetary gain or to satisfy wants, while
non-economic activities are not pursued for monetary benefit. Economic
activities contribute to national income, whereas non-economic activities are
often unpaid and performed for personal fulfillment or societal welfare.
Question 8: Why are women
often employed in low-paying jobs?
Answer:
Women are often employed in low-paying jobs due to gender discrimination,
limited access to education and skill development, and societal norms that
undervalue their contributions. This results in a lack of opportunities for
women to secure higher-paying employment.
Question 9: How would you
define unemployment?
Answer:
Unemployment refers to a situation where individuals willing and able to work
at prevailing wage rates are unable to find employment opportunities. It
indicates an underutilization of labor resources within an economy.
Question 10: What
distinguishes disguised unemployment from seasonal unemployment?
Answer:
Disguised unemployment occurs when more workers are engaged in a job than
necessary, leading to inefficiency without affecting total production. Seasonal
unemployment arises when individuals can only find employment during certain
months of the year due to the seasonal nature of certain industries.
Question 11: Why is educated
unemployment a unique challenge in India?
Answer:
Educated unemployment is a significant challenge in India due to the rapid
growth of the educated workforce, coupled with insufficient job creation in
various sectors. The gap between the skills possessed by educated individuals
and the skills demanded by the job market exacerbates the issue.
Question 12: In which sector
can India create the most employment opportunities?
Answer: India
can generate significant employment opportunities in the agricultural sector
and its allied industries. Agriculture is labor-intensive, and improvements in
agricultural practices, along with value addition and modernization, can create
numerous job opportunities.
Question 13: How can the
education system mitigate the issue of educated unemployment?
Answer: The
education system can address educated unemployment by focusing on skill
development, vocational training, and aligning curricula with industry
requirements. Emphasizing practical skills and fostering entrepreneurship can
empower individuals to create their employment opportunities.
Question 14: Among land,
labor, physical capital, and human capital, which is the most valuable
resource?
Answer:
Human capital is considered the most valuable resource among land, labor,
physical capital, and human capital. Unlike other resources, human capital has
the ability to utilize and enhance the productivity of land, labor, and
physical capital, making it indispensable for economic growth
Question 15: Enumerate the drawbacks of population growth.
Answer:
- Population
increase entails several drawbacks, including:
- A decline in per
capita income.
- A rise in
non-productive forces within the economy.
- An increase in
the number of people below the poverty line.
- The
proliferation of slums in urban areas.
- A surge in
unemployment rates.
Question 16: Highlight the
significance of education.
Answer: The
significance of education encompasses:
- Enabling
individuals to realize their potential and capabilities for work.
- Cultivating new
aspirations and instilling values essential for personal development and
societal growth.
- Enhancing
national income, fostering cultural richness, and bolstering the
efficiency of governance.
Question 17: List the
disadvantages of unemployment.
Answer:
Disadvantages of unemployment include:
- Squandering of
human resources, converting potential contributors to the economy into
liabilities.
- Unemployment
fosters a frustrated class within society, leading to feelings of
helplessness and despair, thereby contributing to social unrest and
tension.
- Unemployment
exacerbates the economic burden by increasing dependence on the working
population.
Question 18: Propose three
methods to harness population as an asset.
Answer: Three
strategies to transform population into an asset entail:
- Improving
literacy rates through education, fostering new aspirations, and enriching
cultural values, consequently enhancing national income and governance
efficiency.
- Prioritizing
health by enabling individuals to realize their potential, bolstering
disease resistance, and promoting self-confidence through improved
longevity and healthcare access.
- Developing
skills through vocational and skill-based education, empowering
individuals to secure employment and contribute to national income.
Question 19: Detail the
initiatives undertaken by the government to enhance literacy conditions in
India.
Answer:
Government initiatives to improve literacy conditions include:
- Establishment of
Navodaya Vidyalayas in each district, offering vocational streams to equip
high school students with practical knowledge and skills.
- Implementation
of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, aimed at providing elementary education to
children aged 6-14 through a collaborative effort between the Central
Government, States, local governments, and communities.
- Introduction of
the Mid-day Meal Scheme to enhance school attendance, retention, and
nutritional status among children.
Question 20: Explain how Japan emerged as a
developed country despite its limited natural resources.
Answer: Japan's development
as a developed country stemmed from:
- Investment in human
resources due to limited natural resources, focusing on education and
healthcare.
- Importing necessary
natural resources while leveraging the efficiency and technology developed
by its educated workforce to make efficient use of land and capital.
- Prioritizing human
capital development, which proved instrumental in Japan's economic growth
and technological advancement.
Question 21: Elucidate how investment in
human capital yields returns akin to investment in physical capital.
Answer: Investment in human
capital, encompassing education, training, and medical care, yields returns by:
- Increasing individual
productivity and incomes through enhanced skills and health, akin to the
productivity gains from physical capital investment.
- Indirectly benefiting
society through the spillover effects of a healthier and more educated
population, ultimately contributing to economic growth and development.
Question 22: Propose various strategies for
the government to alleviate unemployment in India.
Answer: Strategies to combat
unemployment in India involve:
- Increasing investment
in basic and consumer goods industries to create more employment
opportunities.
- Promoting the
development of cottage and small-scale industries employing
labor-intensive techniques.
- Reforming the
educational system to emphasize vocational education and aligning
curricula with industry demands.
- Implementing population
control measures through family planning and welfare schemes.
- Modernizing agriculture
and utilizing wastelands to create agricultural employment.
- Expanding rural works
programs to provide employment opportunities in rural areas.
- Enhancing the
infrastructure to stimulate economic growth and job creation.
- Providing subsidies and
incentives to the private sector to boost employment generation.
- Encouraging
self-employment among young entrepreneurs through training and financial
assistance.
Question 23: Describe the different types of
unemployment prevalent in India.
Answer: Types of
unemployment in India include:
- Disguised unemployment,
where individuals appear employed but contribute minimally to productive
activities, commonly found in agriculture among family members.
- Seasonal unemployment,
occurring when individuals cannot find jobs during certain months, particularly
prevalent in agriculture during off-seasons.
- Educated unemployment,
a phenomenon observed in urban areas, where individuals with higher
education degrees struggle to secure suitable employment, leading to
underutilization of educated workforce resources.
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