A great number of countries concentrate on bettering living standards by growing the economy. However, others believe that it causes the loss of a plethora of socially cherished values. While I acknowledge that growing the economy may have some detrimental effects, I strongly believe that its advantage is greater.

Admittedly, prioritizing economic growth may have some disadvantages. One evident downside is the erosion of cultural preservation in certain places by local people or authorities. Economic prosperity has been seen to increase the availability of property for individuals. However, the catch to this  phenomenon is the abandonment of traditional customs, which is an indispensable part of every nation. Sapa, the destination of tourism development in Vietnam, in recent years has served as an example for this because local people entangled themselves in the demands of a fiercely competitive market, which allowed them seek better opportunities to improve their income. But the consequence of this is a myriad of individuals forced to leave their traditional farming and ways of life behind to serve the tourism industry. This trend may pose the dilution of cultural heritage and loss of cultural identity.

Despite the aforementioned disadvantage, I would contend that the development of the economy is the prerequisite for advancement. The economy can prosper through progressive healthcare and a better quality of life for individuals. For example, if the country is financially powerful, it can advance better public health expenditure as well as installing more modern healthcare equipment in order to increase life-span. Another benefit of economic prosperity is the development of public infrastructure or welfare such as making a new road or progressing educational standards.

In conclusion, although economic growth does have some drawbacks, I still hold the belief that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.