In many countries, the government prioritises economic growth above all other concerns. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this.

In many nations, governments give precedence to economic growth over other issues. The advantages of this are that 1the number of employed residentsnumbers of employed residents will increase and residents’ standards of living will be improved. 2However, this can cause serious environmental problems and health problems.

One major benefit of prioritising economic development is that 3the number of employed citizensnumbers of employed citizens will significantly increase. In other words, 4countries whose economies are growingcountries, where their economies are growing, require substantial workforces to produce sufficient supplies of goods in order to meet 5market demandmarkets’ demand. As a result, 6more citizens become employedmore and more citizens are in employment. 7Moreover, this willMoreover, this will also offer citizens a better quality of life. This is because, when economies are growing, governments will gain 8more tax revenue from trademore taxes from trading and can 9spend it on public welfarespend them on people’s welfare. For example, Singapore 10has improved its economyhas been improved its economy for the last 40 years. As a result, Singaporeans have excellent public 11transporttransports and 12a well-organised healthcare systemthe well-organised health care system.

13On the other hand, focusing only on economic development results in serious environmental damage. 14This is because manufacturingThis is because, manufacturing processes generate CO2 and other 15emissionsfumes, sewage, and industrial waste which are 16released into the environmentreleased to environments and cause air, water and soil pollution. 17Furthermore, industrial pollution will negatively affect people’s health by precipitating respiratory diseases as well as some types of cancer. For example, Beijing, a big city in China, is facing smog which comes from manufacturing and 18incomplete combustion in logistics vehiclesincomplete combustion of logistic vehicles. This leads to an increase in the number of 19patients with exacerbated asthmaasthma-exacerbated patients.

To conclude, while 21prioritisingprioritisng economic development will result in an increase in employment and a better quality of life, the serious downsides that come with this are environmental pollution and residents’ health issues.