What's covered
Key facts
Development Differences
Global development inequalities come from a combination of factors, including colonial history, geography, trade patterns and conflict, rather than any single cause such as climate or work ethic.
Measuring Development
GDP stands for Gross Domestic Product — the total monetary value of goods and services produced within a country in a given period.
Development Differences
The development gap is the difference in wealth and quality of life between richer and poorer countries.
Measuring Development
GDP per person on its own is an imperfect measure because, as an average, it hides inequality within a country.
Development Differences
An emerging country (also called a newly industrialising country, NIC) is one with developing industry and rising incomes — for example India, Brazil or China.
Measuring Development
GNI per capita is a limited measure because it is an average, so it hides unequal income distribution within a country (a few very rich people can pull the average up).
Development Differences
Most of the world's poorer countries are located in the global south (e.g. sub-Saharan Africa, parts of South Asia, Central America), while most richer countries are in the global north — the so-called North–South divide.
Measuring Development
GNI stands for Gross National Income — the total income earned by a country's residents from both domestic and foreign sources.
Development Differences
One feature of a more developed country (HIC) is a high life expectancy, alongside lower infant mortality, higher literacy and higher GDP per capita.
Measuring Development
The HDI combines three dimensions: income (GNI per capita), education (mean and expected years of schooling) and life expectancy.
Sample questions
A taste of the 23 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
Why do LICs often have lower life expectancy than HICs?
- •Genetic differences mean people in LICs age more quickly
- ✓Less access to clean water, healthcare and nutritious food
- •LICs have fewer working-age adults to care for the elderly
- •LICs have hotter climates that wear out the body faster
What does GDP stand for?
- •general domestic progress
- •global development percentage
- •gross development potential
- ✓gross domestic product
Which is a feature of a more developed country?
- •High infant mortality
- ✓High life expectancy
- •Low GDP per person
- •Low literacy rates
What does HDI stand for?
- •Health and Demographics Indicator
- •High Development Income
- •Human Deprivation Index
- ✓Human Development Index
What does LIC stand for?
- •least industrialised country
- •limited infrastructure country
- ✓low income country
- •lower index country
What does GNI stand for?
- •Global Net Investment
- ✓Gross National Income
- •Gross Natural Index
- •Growth and National Infrastructure
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