Raeside, Robert (2009) Modelling the effect of social affinity between nations on their development. International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathermatics, 50 (2). pp. 251-258. ISSN 1311-8080

Abstract/Description

Nations have developed at different rates and this differential de-
velopment is manifested on the wellbeing of their populations. The reasons
for different rates of development can not fully be explained by different initial
economic states, political regime nor by geography. In this paper social cohe-
sion, social homogeneity and social contact with other societies are explored
to determine if this offers and additional explanation. UNDP data is modelled
using a panel data approach to explain the rate of development as reflected by
declines in total fertility rates in terms of variables such as GDP per capita,
life expectancy, literacy rates and infant mortality rates. A created measure
of social similarity between nations is added to the model network analysis are
applied to examine the cohesion within clusters and the degree of connected-
ness between nations using additional information on the similarity between
nations. The inspection of sociograms and multivariate statistical models sug-
gest that social affinity does indeed offer some explanation to differences in rates of development

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