Building a strong, sustainable economy is one of the most difficult challenges nations face. Economic growth requires infrastructure, investment, skilled labor, stable governance, and access to resources, but many countries struggle with poverty, corruption, political instability, and weak institutions, making long-term economic development difficult. Some nations have successfully transitioned from low-income to high-income economies, while others remain trapped in cycles of debt, unemployment, and economic stagnation. This project challenges students to investigate why building an economy is so difficult, analyzing the economic, social, and political factors that influence a country's development.

Students will begin by researching the fundamental components of a strong economy, including industrialization, technological innovation, education, infrastructure, and financial stability. They should explore why some countries—such as South Korea and Singapore—have experienced rapid economic transformation, while others—such as Haiti and Venezuela—have faced persistent economic struggles.

A key focus of this project is analyzing the major obstacles to economic development. Students should examine challenges such as lack of capital, poor governance, insufficient education systems, weak infrastructure, and global economic dependencies. They should also explore how historical events such as colonialism, trade restrictions, or resource exploitation have contributed to long-term economic struggles in some nations.

Another major aspect of this investigation is assessing the role of international organizations, governments, and businesses in economic development. Some countries rely on foreign aid, loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or World Bank, and foreign direct investment, but these solutions sometimes create dependency rather than long-term economic stability. Students should evaluate whether free-market policies, government intervention, or a balance of both is the best strategy for economic growth.

The final investigation report should assess why some countries succeed in building strong economies while others struggle to develop, considering whether economic challenges are caused by internal policy failures, external global pressures, or a combination of both. The goal of this project is to help students understand the complexity of economic growth and explore solutions to persistent development challenges.