Final answer:
Poverty, exacerbated by political instability and corruption, is widely regarded as the fundamental problem of developing countries, often stemming from the 'resource curse' and compounded by ineffective macroeconomic policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The basic problem of developing countries is often considered to be poverty. This issue stems from various contributing factors such as political instability, corruption, and the 'resource curse' which affects resource-rich nations leading to authoritarianism, conflict, and lower economic growth rates. In contrast, resource-poor countries often have tax-based funding that invites greater public scrutiny and governments that may be more attuned to public needs. Poor macroeconomic policies, lack of legal and market-oriented institutions, and difficulties in attracting foreign investment further exacerbate poverty in developing countries.