Madagascar

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INTRODUCTION

Madagascar is known to the world as the Big Red Island at the end of the earth. It is separated form the African continent by the Mozambique Channel. According to the various sources I have read and reviewed it is the forth largest Island in the world. Madagascar is divided in to three regions the central highlands, the east coast, and the west coast. The people of Madagascar however are very poor; as a matter of fact it has been ranked by the World Bank as being among the 13 poorest countries in the world. The country is so deeply in dept that the International Monetary Fund has given it the lowest possible rating, on par with Zaire. Education and heath indicators, including literacy rates and life expectancy are at or below average. According to the National Institute for Statistics, over 70% of the population lived blow the poverty line in 2003. Agricultural productivity is low. Farmers relay on rely on traditional farming practices, often including slash and burn and adoption of new technologies occurs but slowly. Domestic markets function poorly and links to international markets are weak. Madagascar's economy posted a strong recovery in 2003 following a severe economic deterioration due to the eight-month political crisis in 2002. Growth has slowed in 2004, and the economy has suffered from two cyclones, substantial depreciation of the Malagasy franc, and rising prices for the petroleum and rice on the world market during the year.

DEPENDENCY THEORY VERSUS MODERERNIZATION THEORY

Although the early history of Madagascar is somewhat vague, it is believed that human beings first set foot on the shores of the island shortly after Jesus birth. Madagascar was apparently uninhabited until about 2,000 years ago wh...

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The lack of employment and adequate housing leads to overcrowding, which comes with its own set of problems, he told IRIN.

REFERENCE PAGE

Blauer, Ettagele & Laure, Jason (1999). Madagascar Enchantment of the World New York Grolier Publishers

Gutnik, Martin & Gutnik, Natalie (1995). Madagascar Wonders of the World Austin Texas Steck-Vaughn

Heale, Jay (1998) Cultures of the World Madagascar New York Marshall Cavendish Corporation

Oluonye, Mary (2000) A Ticket to Madagascar Minneapolis, Minnesota Carolrhoda Books Inc.

Pitcher, Gemma & Wright, Patricia (2004). Madagascar & Comoros

Author Unknown. Exploring Africa . 2006 Retrieved June 7, 2006

www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/africa/madagascar/

National Institute of Statistics. 2006. Madagascar. Retrieved June 7, 2006 from http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107743.html

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