Uneven development Cambridge IGCSE Geography revision
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In plain words
A child born in one country can expect to live thirty years longer than a child born in another. That gap was not caused by any one thing. Geography, history, trade and government all play a part.
7 things to know
- The development gap is the difference in levels of development between the richest and poorest countries.
- High-income countries are mainly in North America, Europe, East Asia and Oceania. Low-income countries are mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. Middle-income countries include much of Latin America, Asia and North Africa.
- Environmental reasons: being landlocked, with no port; a harsh climate with drought; frequent natural hazards; tropical diseases; few natural resources.
- Economic reasons: dependence on exporting raw materials, whose prices are low and unstable; debt, where repayments leave little to invest; and lack of investment in industry and infrastructure.
- Social reasons: little education, poor healthcare, and rapid population growth that stretches services.
- Political and historical reasons: the legacy of colonialism, conflict, corruption and unstable government.
- These reinforce each other. Poverty means little tax, so little is spent on schools and health, so people stay poor.
Worked example
Explain why a country that relies on exporting a single crop may stay poor.
- Raw materials sell for low prices compared with manufactured goods, so the country earns little.
- The price changes from year to year, and a bad harvest or a fall in price cuts its income sharply.
- With an unreliable income it cannot plan or invest in schools, health and industry.
Tips and tricks
- Sort reasons into social, economic and environmental, as the syllabus does. An answer with one of each is stronger than three of one kind.
- Describe a global pattern by continent or region, and name places.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
Uneven development: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
What is the development gap?
It can be measured with indicators such as GNI and HDI.
Where are most low-income countries found?
The region has the lowest average incomes.
Why is being landlocked a disadvantage?
Goods must cross another country to reach a port.
Why is relying on exports of primary products a problem?
Income is small and unpredictable.
How does debt slow development?
Less is left for schools, hospitals and roads.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 10 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
Uneven development
Cambridge IGCSE Geography 0460 · 10 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
Explain two economic reasons for differences in development between countries.[4]
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Some countries depend on exporting primary products, which earn little and have unstable prices. Some have large debts, so money goes on repayments, not on development.
Explain two environmental reasons why some countries are less developed.[4]
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A landlocked country has no port, so trade is slower and more expensive. A climate with frequent drought makes farming unreliable. (Also: natural hazards, disease.)
Describe the global distribution of low-income countries.[2]
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Most are in sub-Saharan Africa, with some in South and Central Asia.
Answers: Uneven development
- 1. Some countries depend on exporting primary products, which earn little and have unstable prices. Some have large debts, so money goes on repayments, not on development.
- 2. A landlocked country has no port, so trade is slower and more expensive. A climate with frequent drought makes farming unreliable. (Also: natural hazards, disease.)
- 3. Most are in sub-Saharan Africa, with some in South and Central Asia.