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Human Geography 10
Human Geography (Gt-Ss2) (GEO 106)
Colorado Mountain College
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Japan or Switzerland have achieved superb development w/out many resources, primarily through world trade.
A measure of the wealth of a country is the number of consumer goods, like telephones, computers, cars, and television. In LDC’s, very few of these products are likely to be found, and those that do exist are normally shared among many neighbors who all share the cost. Contrasted with MDC’s where the number of TVs to people is practically 1:1. In MDC’s those with wealth typically reside in the suburbs and the lower classes reside in the inner cities; LDC’s show the exact opposite with the wealth clustered in the city and poor people living in the countryside.
The literacy rate exceeds 95% in MDC’s compared to less than 30% in some LDC’s. The student-teacher ratio is 15 or below in many MDC’s and above 40 in some LDC’s.
People are healthier in MDC’s because there are more physicians, hospitals, and nurses per person than in LDC’s. The people in MDC’s have a healthier, more complete diet, and receive more calories and proteins than the people in LDC’s who barely receive the daily minimum.
Life expectancy is higher in MDC’s than in LDC’s. Infant mortality rate, Natural Increase Rate, and CBR are all higher in LDC’s. CDR is not indicative of development because it remains relatively constant betwixt MDC’s and LDC’s. The reasons for this are that medical technology has diffused to the LDC’s and thus lowered their CDR, and that there is a higher number of old people in MDC’s, therefore the CDR will equal that of LDC’s.
Key Issue 2: Where are more and less developed countries distributed?
The world is categorized into nine major regions according to their level of development. The nine regions are: -Anglo-America – Canada and the U. -Latin America -Western Europe -Eastern Europe -East Asia -Japan is separate and is its own region. -South Asia -Southeast Asia -Australia and New Zealand are treated separately and known as the S. Pacific. -Middle East -Sub-Saharan Africa
Three of the nine regions are classified as more developed. They are Anglo-America, W. Europe, and E. Europe. (Japan and the S. Pacific as well) The other six are considered less developed.
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Developed Regions
ANGLO-AMERICA has an HDI of. WESTERN EUROPE has an HDI of. EASTERN EUROPE has an HDI of .78. It is the only region on Earth where the HDI has actually declined. This is due to production cutbacks, higher death rates, and various other hardships as a result of overcoming communism and having to rebuild their economies. The HDI is actually identical to that of Latin America. However, because of E. Europe’s history of economic development, it is listed as a more developed region. JAPAN has an HDI of. SOUTH PACIFIC has an HDI of.
Developing Regions
LATIN AMERICA has an HDI of .78. Development is high along coast, where MDC’s have established manufacturing centers or tourist destinations, but the standard of living is lacking elsewhere in the region. EAST ASIA has an HDI of .72. China is expected to overtake U. as the world’s largest economy w/in a few years. SOUTHEST ASIA has an HDI of. MIDDLE EAST has an HDI of .66. Many of the wealthiest people in the world are clustered here because of oil. However, only a select few have access to this money, and it is poorly distributed to the general public. SOUTH ASIA has an HDI of. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA has an HDI of.
Key Issue 3: Where does level of development vary by gender?
Gender-related development index- (GDI) compares the level of development of women with that of both sexes. Gender empowerment measure- (GEM) compares the ability of women and men to participate in economic and political decision making.
The GDI uses the same indicators of development used in the HDI adjusted to reflect differences in the accomplishments and conditions of men and women. The GDI reflects improvements in the standard of living and well being of women, whereas the GEM measures the ability of women to participate in the process of achieving those improvements. The GEM is calculated by combining: -Two indicators of economic power -income -professional jobs -Two indicators of political power -managerial jobs -elected positions The GDI and GEM are both substantially higher in MDC’s than in LDC’s.
Human Geography 10
Course: Human Geography (Gt-Ss2) (GEO 106)
University: Colorado Mountain College
