Most countries develop their economies to improve living standards. Some people are afraid that it will cause degradation of important social values. Do you think the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

Most countries develop their economies to improve living standards. Some people are afraid that it will cause degradation of important social values. Do you think the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

Ielts Essay on Development and Social Values 

Pursuit of prosperity has raised an alarm among the conservatives for they fear that this is leading to disappearance of important social values, however, the progressive lobby tends to overlook these fears and considers the benefits of this phenomenon more important than preserving the social values.

To start with, when economies achieve prosperity, they are able to afford a good quality of life to the inhabitants of the countries. This leads to an overall well-being, both in terms of physical and psychological: people, aided and supported by every imaginable facility, are able to lead a happy life. This as a result also inclines them to spirituality, thereby raising their awareness towards social conduct.

To add to that, unless economic prosperity is achieved, no country can ensure continuation of social structures: people have to shift out, either to other parts of the country, or to other parts of the world, in order to earn a livelihood, where they naturally are disconnected from their social set-ups, and thus their values. But, if an economy is affluent, it does not require inhabitants to move away and part with their social circles, thereby keeping them in touch with their age-old beliefs.

However, the fears of the seeking affluence seem to be deep-rooted, as when the families are chasing prosperity, they tend to indulge in professional pursuits which forces them to devote more and more time to  their profession: thus making them live in social isolation. The hardest hit are the kids who never get a chance to know their cousins and relatives, making them oblivious of socialization.

Thus, after assessing all the associated merits and demerits, I find this trend to be laden with more benefits, hence development enjoys an upper hand over the concerns of social values.