, ENQUIRY QUESTION I
WHAT IS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND WHY DOES IT VARY FROM
PLACE TO PLACE?
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,8A.1 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
8A.1a CONCEPTS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, P174
GDP (Gross Domestic the total value of all goods and services produced within
Product) the borders of a country within a specific time period,
typically measured annually or quarterly. It serves as a key
indicator of a country's economic performance.
GDP per capita dividing the total GDP of a country by its population. This
metric provides an average measure of economic output
per person and is useful for comparing the economic
well-being of different countries on a per-person basis.
GNI per capita (Gross GNI per capita is similar to GDP per capita but takes into
National Income per account the net income from abroad. It adds the income
capita) earned by a country's residents from foreign investments
and subtracts the income earned by foreign residents
within the country. GNI per capita provides a more
comprehensive measure of a nation's income available to
its residents.
HDI (Human Development HDI is a composite index that measures a country's
Index) average achievements in three basic dimensions of human
development: health (life expectancy at birth), education
(mean years of schooling and expected years of
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, schooling), and standard of living (GNI per capita). HDI is
used to assess and compare the overall development of
different countries. It provides a broader view beyond
purely economic indicators.
● Development in China and India has helped bring down the poverty rate in East
Asia and the Pacific from 61% in 1990 to 7% in 2012, and in South Asia from 51%
to 19%.
● In contrast, sub- Saharan Africa’s extreme poverty rate did not fall below its 1990
level of 57% until 2002, and in 2012 the rate stood at 43%.
● The levels of world poverty equate to 800 million people living in severe poverty,
based on an income poverty line of $1.90 a day in 2015.
REASONS FOR VARIATION IN DEVELOPMENT
PHYSICAL REASONS FOR VARIATION IN DEVELOPMENT
● Climate: Any extreme climate will restrict agriculture and the ability to generate an
income.
○ Some of the poorest countries, like Mali and Chad, are in Africa’s Sahel,
where drought affects food production.
■ Climate change is adding to the impacts in these areas.
● Populations living in hot and humid tropical climates are
often affected by diseases such as malaria.
● Relief: Mountains and steep slopes (e.g. Nepal) make it difficult to farm, travel and
earn a living.
○ Steep slopes are almost impossible to farm.
■ Higher altitudes have higher precipitation, lower temperatures, and
stronger winds.
● Natural hazards: Areas prone to floods, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes or drought (e.g. Haiti) tend to remain less developed as they must use
their income to mitigate the impact of events.
○ Haiti is a hazard ‘hotspot’, with alternating hurricanes and earthquakes.
● Landlocked countries: The lack of direct access to ports increases the cost of
trade.
○ There are 16 landlocked countries in Africa.
■ South Sudan, for instance, has real problems exporting its oil
through North Sudan.
● Natural resources: Areas lacking in mineral resources e.g. coal and oil, and areas
with poor soils, remain less developed.
○ Most countries in the Middle East have vast oil reserves to export,
dramatically improving their income.
HUMAN REASONS FOR VARIATION IN DEVELOPMENT
● Population: High population growth will generally limit development, since
resources such as food, space, and water will have to be spread more thinly.
○ There will not be enough jobs, schools or health clinics to serve the
population. Money is used up giving people the basics of life rather than
improving development.
● History: Some countries were artificial creations of colonial powers, with ethnic
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