Final answer:
Walt Rostow's model of economic growth suggests that economies cannot revert to previous stages, emphasizing progressive development up to a high mass consumption society.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1960s, Walt Rostow developed a model of economic development known as The Stages of Economic Growth. According to Rostow, economies can progress through various stages but cannot reverse back to a prior stage. Starting from a traditional society, these progress forward up to a stage of high mass consumption. Rostow argued that while economies can stall or stop their economic progression, they could not revert back to a previous stage of development.
Rostow's model became a framework for understanding economic growth in a global context. He emphasized that backwardness isn't inherently negative, as noted by Gerschenkron, who pointed out that there are certain advantages for late-developing countries in trying to catch up. However, Rostow's model doesn't account for the possibility of de-growth or transitioning towards a steady-state economy, wherein an economy exists without the need for constant growth.
Thus, to directly answer the student's question, Rostow's argument suggests that economies cannot go back to previous stages once they have moved forward. This concept is important when considering the economic development pathway of a nation and the potential challenges in achieving sustainable growth.