What is "underdevelopment"

n. The condition of being insufficiently developed

1. n. state of inadequate development; "much poverty can be traced to the underdevelopment of industry"

2. (photography) inadequate processing of film resulting in inadequate contrast

In economics, underdevelopment is when resources are not used to their full socio-economic potential, with the result that local or regional development is slower in most cases than it should be, specially compare with the investment and innovation in countries that surround it. Furthermore, it results from the complex interplay of internal and external factors that allow less developed countries only a lop-sided development progression. Underdeveloped nations are characterized by a wide disparity between their rich and poor populations, and an unhealthy balance of trade. Symptoms of underdevelopment include lack of access to job opportunities, health care, drinkable water, food, education and housing.

The idea of underdevelopment has its origin in the German economists of the 19th century and early 20th, who discussed the idea of Adam Smith that all regions, professions and populations may progress economically at a similar pace.

independently of the definition of the term, underdevelopment is a global problem which is have been attributed to different factors; but without an agreement on whether or not are influential, as the race, if they can be considered generic or specific, as the religion, if they have been created by other Nations, the case of the colonialism, or if on the contrary would be something of underdeveloped populations, such as blaming others.