Why are some countries classified as developed and others not? What is the criterion used to determine this? Some believe that democracy and economic development should be taken into consideration among the criteria for evaluating the development of a country and that there is a link between them. Democracy can be defined as a form of government in which people choose their leaders by voting, but it also involves equal rights and treatment. (Merriam Webster n.d.) On the other hand, economic development can be defined as progress in an economy that refers to improvements in living standards, the adoption of new technologies, and the transition from an agricultural economy to an industry-based economy. (Business Dictionary n.d.)Mexico and Russia both have different numerical indicators for democracy and economic development. According to Freedom House, Mexico has a score of 3.0 in terms of freedom, being 1=best, 7=worst. Based on this score, Mexico is considered a partially free country. What does this mean? A partially free country is characterized by some restrictions on political rights and ...