26 "Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs)," "Low and MiddleIncome Countries," "Developing Countries," and "Emerging Countries." These terms eliminate the arbitrary geographical divide of North and South and are favored by many organizations. However, there is still some discussion that it is not fair to have the connotation of "poor" associated with these terms for these countries, noting that many of these countries, while appearing poor in terms of GDP, are rich in raw resources that power the modern world. One proposed alternative for a general term is "The Majority World." Previous terms tend to emphasize the economic challenges these countries face in a somewhat negative manner, making them seem like the minority or lagging behind the rest of the world. The term "The Majority World" shifts the focus, highlighting that the majority of the world's population lives in countries dealing with low economic output and related challenges such as high poverty, informal settlements, climate crises, and health challenges. This reframing underscores the importance of research, development, and funding to address these issues. For example, in the context of the built environment, acknowledging that many countries in the "Majority World" have hot and humid climates with limited budgets is crucial for designing efficient buildings using appropriate technologies. The ongoing discourse underscores the need for further discussion on Fig 3.2 Snippet from an article about D-Labs: Schools shared as part of Libby Hsu's presentation.
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