1. PowerPoint 2: Who made my iPod?

2. n Do you have an iPod or other type of MP3 player?
Who made my iPod?
n Do you have an iPod or other type of MP3 player?
n Where does it come from?
Photo: Catherine Owen

3. Objectives
n Know that items we buy are made in different stages
n Understand that different stages in the manufacturing process tend to take place in different parts of the world
n Consider the impact of the global division of labour on people in different parts of the world

4. Where does an iPod come from?
n When the 30GB Video iPod was launched in 2007 it sold for US$299. But where was it made? And how much of this final price is ‘spent’ at each stage of production?

5. Is there a global division of labour?
Global division of labour: a way of organising work, especially making things, so that it is done as a set of separate processes by different (groups of) people
n Does your iPod case study suggest that there is a global division of labour?
n How does this compare to the way products were made 50 years ago?

6. Task
Look at an atlas and/or Worldmapper (
n How could you use these resources to find out more about the global division of labour?
n Carry out your own research to find out more about where different stages in the manufacturing process take place (use Information sheet 1)
n Can you identify any patterns? Do different stages take place in MEDCs and LEDCs?

7. Example map 1: Exports of ores
n This map shows exports of ores. Australia, South Africa and the countries of South America export large amounts of ores
n Australia and South Africa can be classified as MEDCs, while the South American countries are among the wealthier LEDCs
Source: © Copyright 2006 SASI Group (University of Sheffield) and Mark Newman (University of Michigan)

8. Example map 2: Electronics exports
n This map shows electronics exports. Ireland, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan export the most electronics
n Ireland and Japan are MEDCs. Taiwan, Malaysia and Hong Kong are newly-industrialised countries (NICs)
Source: © Copyright 2006 SASI Group (University of Sheffield) and Mark Newman (University of Michigan)

9. More questions to think about…
n How would you describe the global division of labour?
n Do you think the patterns of production will stay the same, or will they change in the future? Why?
n What impact do you think global recession will have on these trading patterns?
n Do you think the global division of labour is good or bad? Why?