Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

arrow_back_ios_new
MENTAL MODEL · M5041

Dependency Theory

Dependency Theory
BusinessHigh supportPolitical Economy
Included
account_tree

Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

The global economic system is composed of "core" countries (wealthy, industrialized) and "periphery" countries (poor, resource-based). The poverty of periphery countries is not because they haven't developed, but because their integration into the global system is exploitative. The wealth of rich countries is built on the poverty of poor countries.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

A perspective on structural poverty. When you are in a "periphery" position in the system (e.g., downstream supplier, outsourced team), the harder you work, the more dependent you may become on the core (the client), because surplus value is structurally extracted. To change your fate, you must change your position in the value chain.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

The global economy is composed of a "core" (wealthy, industrialized) and a "periphery" (poor, resource-based). The poverty of the periphery stems from its exploitative integration into the system; the wealth of rich countries is built on the poverty of poor countries—surplus value is structurally extracted.

MINIMUM ACTION

In progress 0/4

Practice this model in one real situation:

Check to track your progress (stored locally)
Learning progress0%
account_treeGenealogyexpand_more
menu_bookReferencesexpand_more

Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependency_theoryZH · Explicit
    verified

RELATED MODELS

Related model

Candlemakers' Petition

Bastiat’s fictional petition to block sunlight satirizes trade protectionism.

arrow_forwardRelated model

How Might We / HMW

A questioning format that transforms pain points or challenges into opportunities.

arrow_forwardRelated model

Value Chain Analysis

The value chain, also known as value chain analysis or value chain model, was proposed by Michael Porter in 1985 in his book "Competitive Advantage". Porter pointed out that to develop unique competitive advantages, enterprises need to create higher added value for their goods and services. The business strategy is to structure the enterprise's business model (process) into a series of value-added processes, and this series of value-added processes is the "value chain". The value chain of a general enterprise is mainly divided into: Primary Activities, including the core production and sales processes of the enterprise:

arrow_forward