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

Development Process of improving material conditions of people through diffusion of knowledge & technology More developed countries (MDCs) Lesser developed countries (LDCs)

Why Does Development Vary Between Countries? Economic indicators of development Human Development Index (HDI) 4 factors to assess development: Economic = (1) GDP per capita Social = (2) literacy & (3) amount of education Demographic = (4) life expectancy Gross Domestic Product per capita U.S. = $45,000

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

Why Does Development Vary Among Countries? Economic indicators of development Productivity Measured by value added per capita MDCs are more productive than LDCs

Why Does Development Vary Among Countries? Economic indicators of development Consumer goods Technology Transportation Communication

Motor Vehicles Per 1,000 Persons Figure 9-4

Why Does Development Vary Among Countries? Social indicators of development Education & literacy Literacy rate Over 98% in MDC’s Less than 60% in LDC’s

Students Per Teacher, Primary School Figure 9-6

Why Does Development Vary Among Countries? Social indicators of development Health & welfare Diet (adequate calories) Access to health care

Why Does Development Vary Among Countries? Demographic indicators of development Life expectancy MDCs: life expectancy in the 70s LDCs: life expectancy in the 60s

Why Does Development Vary Among Countries? Demographic indicators of development Other demographic indicators: Infant mortality Natural increase Crude birth rate Figure 9-26

Where are MDCs and LDCs Distributed? More developed regions North America & Europe Other MDCs with high HDI = Russia, Japan, Australia, & New Zealand

Where are MDCs and LDCs Distributed? Less developed regions Latin America = highest HDI among LDCs SW Asia, SE Asia, Central Asia = similar HDI S Asia & sub-Saharan Africa = low levels of development

Where Does Level of Development Vary by Gender? Gender-Related Development Index (GDI) Compare level of women’s development to both sexes 4 measures: Per capita female incomes as % of male per capita incomes # of females enrolled in school compared to # of males % 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 decision-making capabilities of men & women in politics & economics Economic & political indicators: Per capita female incomes as % of male per capita incomes % of technical & professional jobs held by women % of administrative jobs held by women % of women holding national office

Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) Figure 9-22

Economic Indicator of Empowerment: Professionals Figure 9-23

Why Do LDCs Face Obstacles to Development? Development through self-sufficiency Characteristics: Pace = modest; distribution = even Barriers to protect local business Tariffs, quotas, & restricting # of importers 2 problems: Protects inefficient businesses Develop large bureaucracies

Why Do LDCs Face Obstacles to Development? International trade approach 4 Asian Dragons S Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong Petroleum-Rich Arabian Peninsula States Most commonly selected path by end of 20th c. Evidence = international trade is more effective Problems Triumphs Figure 9-27

Why Do LDCs Face Obstacles to Development? International trade approach triumphs World Trade Organization Foreign direct investment Figure 9-30

Why Do LDCs Face Obstacles to Development? Financing development LDC’s need $ for development 2 sources: Loans: World Bank & International Monetary Fund FDI via transnational corporations Structural Adjustment Programs Sets economic goals & strategies to achieve them

Debt as a Percentage of Income Figure 9-31

Why Do LDCs Face Obstacles to Development? Fair trade approach Products made/traded in way that protects workers & small businesses in LDCs 2 sets of standards Fair trade producer standards Fair trade worker standards Producers & workers usually earn more Consumers usually pay higher prices

The End.