ABSTRACT
Irrespective of whether we use simple GNP per capita as an indicator or some broader index such as the human development index of the United Nations, groupings of countries emerge in which western Europe, North America, Australasia and Japan can be identified as the areas of highest development. Apart from their general affluence, these areas also have three other common characteristics that are important for our discussions of migration and development, even if there are variations between them. The countries are all governed by some form of parliamentary democratic system, all are societies of low fertility and mortality and all are among the most highly urbanized parts of the world. While there are other common characteristics ranging from the low proportion of GNP that is derived from agriculture to the importance of the rule of law, the differences between these areas are striking.
