A2 Geography: Development

Seite 1

Development Indicators

Economic

Demographic

Political

Social

Cultural

GDP

GNI

Per capita

from agriculture

from industry

from services

Per capita

total population

population density

dependency ratio

birth rate

death rate

urban population

life expectancy

turnout rates in elections

electorate numbers

HDI

GDI (gender)

food intake (cal per day per capita)

doctors per 100,000

adults living with HIV/AIDS

adult literacy rate

motor vehicles per 1,000

internet usage per 1,000

enrolment rates

migration flows

census

urban population

net immigration

net emigration

religion

family size

Changes associated with development

Economic

Demographic

Social

Political

shift in employment

increase in productivity

international trade expands

income inequality often widens

manufacturing more technologically focused

from agriculture to manufacturing and services

higher value added

mortality rates fall

fertility declines

increased life expectancy

changes summarised in DTM

improved living standard

medical technology more available

availability of artificial contraception

lower infant mortality rates

secondary education widely available

changing values and lifestyles

narrowing gender inequality

growing urban population

especially to girls

decreased tribal focus

become more 'western'

due to marketing of western consumer products

education more universal

pressure for improved governance

move towards democracy

free elections

increased exposure to modern media

internet

television

Modernisation

becoming more modern as a country develops

Economic terms

Social terms

Political terms

many theorists attempted to model this form of development

being like the 'west'

commercial rather than subsistence

industrialisation

urbanisation

increased use of technology and scientific principles

economic changes reflected within social and cultural spheres

importance of class groups

lower importance of tribal affiliations

democratically elected governments

less tribal/religious forms of organisation

best known is Walt Rostow

The Stages of Economic Growth (1960)

Measurement of development

GNP

GDP

HDI

Gross National Product

measures value of all goods/services claimed by residents

regardless of location of production

Gross Domestic Product

measures value of all goods/services produced

look at GDP of countries lower down development continuum

GNP per capita

does not matter if company/individual profiting is national or foreign

shows investment being put into country

shows true economic growth

advantages as measure of development

disadvantages as measure of development

quantitative data

easily complete statistical analysis

easily present data

key measure of economic development

easy to compare and contrast

graphical format

cartographic format

assume 'trickle effect'

informal economies not taken into account

inflation increases GDP

mean/average figure

does not allow qualitative perspective

variations in currency not taken into account

LDCs investment or economic growth facilitated by TNCs/external investment not included

disadvantageous to LDCs due to nomadic and subsistence farming

even if output has not

skewed by rich

masks inequalities

cost of living varies between countries

difficult to compare economic growth

Human Development Index

3 variables

calculating HDI

advantages

disadvantages

Income (GDP per capita)

Knowledge

longevity (life expectancy at birth)

adult literacy rate

percentage of children attending school

highest and lowest value of each variable for all countries found

country give result between 0 and 1

scores for each 3 variables averaged out to give total HDI

1 highest and 0 lowest

easy to understand

provides basis for ranking countries

enables comparisons of performance over time

gives general indication of development

enables analysis within indicator

generalised measure

use averages and aggregate data

obscure nature and causes of development

conceals geographical and social variations and inequalities

accuracy of official data not always assured

A2 Geography: Development