Surely it is a 'Developed World' problem?

[AtYourCervix]

Not 'First World'.

'Third World' being terribly non-P.C.

Surely First World is equally offensive?

Developed/Developing

Rather than

First/Third?

S'true. Terribly non-PC.

It's odd in either case isn't it? Just means 'richer' or 'poorer' but we're too squeamish to say it.

'Global North' problem if you want to be uber-pc. We were stongly discouraged from writing about the developed world and developing world during my international relations degree. 'Global North' and 'Global South' were the PC terms.

I think the geographers had EDCs (economically developed countries) and LEDCs (less economically developed countries).

While we're on the subject......

Where the frick happened to the Second World?

I don't know where that random 'problem' came from

It's Russia and all, I think?

Second world was the former soviet bloc countries

It's nothing to do with riches or anything like that. It is down to when in history the countries development at this present time is. Third world equate to the UK quite some time ago.

Not everything needs to be un pc'd.

I think we ought to be more specific. "GDP in the top 10% problem" might do it?

When I did my international relations degree, we certainly didn't refer to 'Global North' and 'Global South' ... but that may be because we live in a developed country in the Southern Hemisphere - believe it or not, some do exist.

Frankly, I'm amazed that anyone would think that North and South were an an effective, easy way to distinguish relative wealth on the planet.

I'm liking Global North/South.

But is that insulting to the more economically developed New Zealanders?

Nothing to do with riches?

Really? I admit, I've absolutely no clue, I've just never heard people use 'first world problem' except in a context that obviously has to do with riches. Seldom has anything to do with 'development'.

X post Don.

P.S. 'First World problem' just sounds catchier.

So is it wealth? Or attitude?

Like class.

Socio-economic-spitritual-and-homomogenously developed.

Not just New Zealamders, but Australians, Africans, South Americans and South East Asians...

There's vast swathes of us that are 'economically developed' down here.

I've got it! "Human Development Index above 8 problem".

It's not unusual for idioms to fossilise older usages.

But who am I to assess whether an areas human development is first, second or third to mine?

How does spiritual development work? I'm just picturing chanting monks but I expect that's just me.

"Global North" is a term that would probably confuse most of the cast of TOWIE, who are most likely under the impression that people are poor up North and wear clogs.

I work in international development and believe me folks dont get uppity about the phrase. However if you do wish to get specific the phrase would be high income country problem vs lower middle income, low income or least developed country problem as set by the OECD DAC committee. Bit of a mouthful though.

Ok LRD. Poor
Y worded, I know. A less developed country will be less rich than a developed one. But that is where third world and first world comes from.

If it was down to money only some of the Mediterranean countries would be 3rd world purely based on their finances.