Thus gross underu til ization of existinq productive capacities coexisted with a situation characterized by extreme scarcities of commodities which could have been produced from the severely underutilized facilities. Similarly, infrastructural and other social service facilities progressively deteriorated owing to inadequate or even non-existent maintenance. The net result of all this has been a decline in the growth rate of the gross domestic product and ultimately a sharp deterioration in the living standards of the general population in com~ rison with the levels attained during the 1960s and the 1970s. Moreover, the debt-servicing obligations, bv demanding from those countries more than could be considered a reasonable and bearable proPOrtion of their normal export earnings, rendered an already unsustainable situation even more intolerable. Indeed, the credibility of the Governments concerned was seriously undermined, even among their own people, as extreme! y scarce foreign exchange resources, which would otherwise have been used to imtx>rt desperately needed medicines, educational naterials, agricultural inPuts and industrial raw naterials, were diverted to service an external debt. It is appreciated that a number of African countries were able to reschedule their debt obliga tioo through the Paris Club, and this has facilitated the release of some resources for operational and developmental activities during the adjustment period. Such arrangements have not, however, offered adequate relief to those countries which have a large Proportion of their external indebtedness not subject to reschedulinq. Facing such daunting and unprecedented economic difficulties, at times even threatening the very survival and fabric of the societies in question, many developing countries, out of desperation, have been forced to qo to the international financial institutions for whatever assistance they could get. Those JP/jg A/S-18/PV. 8 97 (Mr. Malima, United Republic of Tanzania} institutions insist in their adjustment programmes on conditionalities, which are almost without exception required of all developing countries seeking their 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the economic difficulties faced by developing countries, specifically the underutilization of productive capacities, debt servicing obligations, and the impact on living standards. It also mentions the role of international financial institutions and the conditionalities attached to their assistance. Given the focus on economic development, debt, and international relations, it is likely that the text is related to the economic development and international trade.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade