The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography Chapter 9: Development The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography

Development The process of improving the material conditions of people through the diffusion of knowledge and technology More developed countries (MDCs) AKA developed countries Lesser developed countries (LDCs) AKA emerging or developing countries

Why Does Development Vary Between Countries? Economic indicators of development The Human Development Index (HDI) Four factors used to assess a country’s level of development: Economic = (1) gross domestic product (GDP) per capita Social = (2) literacy and (3) amount of education Demographic = (4) life expectancy

Human Development Index Figure 9-1

Why Does Development Vary Among Countries? Economic indicators of development Types of jobs Primary sector Secondary sector Tertiary sector Productivity Measured by the value added per capita MDCs are more productive than LDCs Consumer goods

Motor Vehicles Per 1,000 Persons Figure 9-4

Why Does Development Vary Among Countries? Social indicators of development Education and literacy The literacy rate Health and welfare Diet (adequate calories) Access to health care

Students Per Teacher, Primary School Figure 9-6

Why Does Development Vary Among Countries? Demographic indicators of development Life expectancy Babies born today in MDCs have a life expectancy in the 70s; babies born in LDCs, in the 60s Other demographic indicators: Infant mortality Natural increase Crude birth rate

Where are MDCs and LDCs Distributed? More developed regions North America and Europe Other MDCs with high HDI = Russia, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand Less developed regions Latin America = highest HDI among LDCs Southwest Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia = similar HDI South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa = low levels of development

More and Less Developed Regions Figure 9-10

Where Does Level of Development Vary by Gender? Gender-Related Development Index (GDI) Compares the level of women’s development with that of both sexes Four measures (similar to HDI): Per capita female incomes as a percentage of male per capita incomes Number of females enrolled in school compared to the number of males Percent of literate females to literate males Life expectancy of females to males

Gender-Related Development Index (GDI) Figure 9-17

Demographic Indicator of Gender Difference: Life Expectancy Figure 9-21

Where Does Level of Development Vary by Gender? Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) Compares the decision-making capabilities of men and women in politics and economics Uses economic and political indicators: Per capita female incomes as a percentage of male per capita incomes Percentage of technical and professional jobs held by women Percentage of administrative jobs held by women Percentage of women holding national office

Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) Figure 9-22

Economic Indicator of Empowerment: Professionals Figure 9-23

Progress Toward Development Figure 9-26

Why Do LDCs Face Obstacles to Development? Development through self-sufficiency Characteristics: Pace of development = modest Distribution of development = even Barriers are established to protect local business Three most common barriers = (1) tariffs, (2) quotas, and (3) restricting the number of importers Two major problems with this approach: Inefficient businesses are protected A large bureaucracy is developed

Why Do LDCs Face Obstacles to Development? Development through international trade Rostow’s model of development Examples of international trade approach The “four Asian dragons” Petroleum-rich Arabian Peninsula states Three major problems: Uneven resource distribution Increased dependence on MDCs Market decline

Why Do LDCs Face Obstacles to Development? International trade approach triumphs The path most commonly selected by the end of the twentieth century Countries convert because evidence indicates that international trade is the more effective path toward development Example: India World Trade Organization Foreign direct investment

Triumph of International Trade Approach Figure 9-28 Figure 9-27

Foreign Direct Investment Figure 9-30

Why Do LDCs Face Obstacles to Development? Financing development LDCs require money to fund development Two sources of funds: Loans The World Bank and the IMF Structural adjustment programs Foreign direct investment from transnational corporations

Debt as a Percentage of Income Figure 9-31

Why Do LDCs Face Obstacles to Development? Fair trade approach Products are made and traded in a way that protects workers and small businesses in LDCs Two sets of standards Fair trade producer standards Fair trade worker standards Producers and workers usually earn more Consumers usually pay higher prices

Core and Periphery Model Figure 9-32

The End. Up next: Agriculture