bridging the development gap a2 edexcel geography

Bridging the development gap

Development gap = social and economic disparity between wealthy and poor, can occur globally or locally.

Food security = the extent to which a country can feed its own population or can afford purchase food on global markets when shortfalls occur.

Civil unrest = the disruption of typical social order e.g. strike, protest, violent or unviolent.

+around 2008 there was a 15 year period of economic growth and low inflation

+costs of imported manufactured goods was low and there was cheap labour in places like china

+food and wine prices had also fallen due to food surpluses

+low global interest rates made house prices cheap

-          Food prices rose sharply worldwide after 2006

-          Poor harvests after extreme weather = low grain stock

-          Growth of bio fuels reduced amount of land under food cultivation

-          Rising demand in rice supporting countries e.g. India, China

-          Rising incomes and food consumption reduced amount for exports

-          Rising demand for cattle feed e.g. Saudi Arabia largest barley imports

-          Hoarding of food by traders experiencing price increases

Rising oil prices also affects the increasing prices of distributing and growing food

FAO = UN organised Food and Agricultural Organisation

Development = means change and implies that it is for the better could be economic and improves the standard of living

Food crisis illustrates the development gap between rich and poor countries worldwide. Poorer countries have poorer food security caused by higher import costs. Many governments of rice producing countries banned the export of rice in order to guarantee supplies for their own people. 

Case study: The Philippines

2007 rice prices increased, as well as global increases. 2008 government used troops to deliver subsidised rice to poorer districts. Following protests rice hoarders were imprisoned if guilty. Until 1990s the Philippines was self-sufficient in terms of rice production. By 2008 it was the world’s biggest importer in 20 years the country lost its best farmland to urban developments. Examples of cash crops include coffee, chocolate, chilli and tea.

Factors making it worse =

Urban Sprawl (extension of cities into rural landscapes) + Climate change (result in flooding or desertification)

Since 1980 people living in extreme poverty has fallen from 40% to 20% but poverty is still bad due to population growth.

2.8 billion People live on $2 per day = moderate poverty

1.1 billion People live on $1.25 per day = extreme poverty

GDP = Gross domestic product. GNI = Gross National Income USA GNI double other countries

NNI = Net national income GDP and GNI don’t take income distribution into account. GDP and GNI show the local value of money.

PPP = Purchasing Power Parity (112 rupees may be £1.50)

Economic development relates to incomes, businesses, technology and enterprise. Whereas human development refers to quality of life, education and cultural values. Economic development could act as an indicator of a country’s economy and demonstrate their levels of employment.

Human development can be measured by assessing quality of life, birth and death rate and access to services. This is harder to measure as it is not in as many statistics like economic development is.

HDI = human development index. This uses 3 indicators: life expectancy, GDP and education, these are averaged out for each country.

PQLI = physical quality of life index

TAI = technical achievement index

GDRI = Gender related development index

MDG = Millennium development goals – they were developed in 2000 to measure income and quality of life. There are 8 goals and 21 targets to be met by 2015. E.g. goals halve proportion of people suffering from hunger, achieve universal primary education, and reduce under 5 death rate by two thirds.

North south divide can also be seen in supercar sales

Brant line = developed north and poor south with the exception of Australia. It was developed in 1981 (it is now outdated and over simplified)

Asian Tigers = BRIC countries

Mydal Model of core and periphery – demonstrates sub Saharan Africa and shows more detail than brant line.

Volvo cars = 40% owned by Chinese (they wanted to move money into Europe to avoid a collapse)

Example: Fair trade trying to get rid of the development gap by paying farmers good prices

Key players = World Bank, IMFG, NGOS, TNCs, and Governments

Poverty = lack of opportunity which is most acute in rural places  

India’s caste system

This is a system of social stratification, which historically separates communities by birth and family. It is a social and religious class system found mostly among Hindus and Muslims. It is thought to be traditional Hindu way of life, yet many people argue that British colonialism may have affected it. India’s constitution makes caste discrimination illegal. Untouchability was also made illegal in 1950. Inter-caste marriages are now more common.

Reasons for gender inequality in developing countries:

·         Gender bias laws, no equal pay, women can’t vote

·         Gender bias religious values e.g. Hindu caste system puts women at an disadvantage

·         Traditional values in society e.g. women stay at home for children and men work

·         No modern technology may shut them off from third world countries

·         Not a good level of primary and secondary education – not learnt about feminism – poor literacy – cannot get good job – limited opportunities

·         No democratic Government – unfair politics

·         Early marriages – lots of children

·         Poor health care – death at childbirth – poor sanitation – disease e.g. malaria, cholera

·         People may not be well travelled – understand western societies way of life e.g. equal rights

Who contributes to global development?

·         United nations – promote free trade, provide investment

·         EU – promotes economic co-operation, raise standards of business practice

·         Ngo e.g. Oxfam, water aid, unicef – bottom up approach, non-bias assessment

·         World trade organisation

·         TNCs e.g. nike, unilever, nestle – have large employed workforce

·         Trading blocs

·         Superpowers e.g. USA – regulate the economy, influence politics, provide infrastructure.

( RANKED INTO HOW EFFECTIVE I THINK THEY ARE HDI BEING TOP)	Advantages	Disadvantages
1.       HDI (human development index)	Encounters economic growth, quality of life, education and health care. This shows how governments invest, but not how much money they have.	Doesn’t take issues of water and sanitation into account. Doesn’t factor in gender equality.  It is only an average so it does not show the different areas
2.       GDP ( gross domestic product)	It shows values of goods and services over a year, this is averaged per person. You can see how much is produced in dollars.	This does not show what per capita income is actually worth in terms of spending power. Does not take living costs in different places into account.
3.       PPP ( purchasing power parity)	This shows what per capita income will purchase with the cost of living taken into account.	This value is purely economic Exchange rates can change. This is too narrow of a measure, it does not take all economic activity into consideration.
4.       GNI (gross national income)	Shows total economic activity, this includes overseas as well.	This is better than GDP as it encounters income from over sea such as shares and earnings. It is not always measured in per capita which is bad. There are no social factors considered.
5.       BRANT LINE 1981	Shows clear north south divide Good visual representation Easy to interpret Good for people south of line to understanding	Australia is an exception to the line. It does not take the BRIC countries into consideration. It is outdated 1981 and it is too simplistic.