Rostow's Stages of Economic Growth

Depends upon primary sector activities, such as farming, fishing, and hunting, for subsistence.

• Stage 1: Traditional Society

• Stage 2: Pre-Condition for Take-Off

• Stage 3: Take-Off

• Stage 4: Drive to Maturity

• Stage 5: High Mass Consumption

Uses limited technology.

• Stage 1: Traditional Society

• Stage 2: Pre-Condition for Take-Off

• Stage 3: Take-Off

• Stage 4: Drive to Maturity

• Stage 5: High Mass Consumption

Carries out local or regional trading only.

• Stage 1: Traditional Society

• Stage 2: Pre-Condition for Take-Off

• Stage 3: Take-Off

• Stage 4: Drive to Maturity

• Stage 5: High Mass Consumption

Limited socio-economic mobility, growth. No climbing of socio-economic classes.

• Stage 1: Traditional Society

• Stage 2: Pre-Condition for Take-Off

• Stage 3: Take-Off

• Stage 4: Drive to Maturity

• Stage 5: High Mass Consumption

Starts to develop and improve infrastructure (roads, electrical grid, water systems, etc.)

• Stage 1: Traditional Society

• Stage 2: Pre-Condition for Take-Off

• Stage 3: Take-Off

• Stage 4: Drive to Maturity

• Stage 5: High Mass Consumption

Starts to improve farming techniques and shift more towards commercial agriculture.

• Stage 1: Traditional Society

• Stage 2: Pre-Condition for Take-Off

• Stage 3: Take-Off

• Stage 4: Drive to Maturity

• Stage 5: High Mass Consumption

Begins to participate in international trade, such as the exporting of agriculture and raw materials.

• Stage 1: Traditional Society

• Stage 2: Pre-Condition for Take-Off

• Stage 3: Take-Off

• Stage 4: Drive to Maturity

• Stage 5: High Mass Consumption

Use of technology starts to become more common and widespread.

• Stage 1: Traditional Society

• Stage 2: Pre-Condition for Take-Off

• Stage 3: Take-Off

• Stage 4: Drive to Maturity

• Stage 5: High Mass Consumption

Starts individual socio-economic mobility and growth. Starts to become possible to climb socio-economic classes.

• Stage 1: Traditional Society

• Stage 2: Pre-Condition for Take-Off

• Stage 3: Take-Off

• Stage 4: Drive to Maturity

• Stage 5: High Mass Consumption

Major technological advancements leads to rapid growth in the textile and food industries.

• Stage 1: Traditional Society

• Stage 2: Pre-Condition for Take-Off

• Stage 3: Take-Off

• Stage 4: Drive to Maturity

• Stage 5: High Mass Consumption