The changing economic world — AQA GCSE Geography revision

Measuring development

• Single measures include GNI per head, birth and death rates, infant mortality, literacy and life expectancy; each is limited alone because it hides inequality within a country.
• The Human Development Index combines income, education and life expectancy, giving a fuller picture between 0 and 1.
• The demographic transition model shows how birth and death rates change through five stages as a country develops, altering population structure shown in population pyramids.

The development gap

• Causes of uneven development include physical factors (climate, landlocked position, natural hazards, resources), economic factors (trade terms, debt, reliance on primary products) and historical factors (colonialism, conflict).
• Consequences include disparities in wealth, health and education, plus international migration.
• Strategies to reduce the gap: investment, industrial development, aid, intermediate technology, fair trade, debt relief, microfinance and tourism. Each has strengths and drawbacks — aid can create dependency, tourism income can leak abroad.

Key terms

GNI per head

Total national income divided by population, often adjusted for purchasing power.

HDI

Composite index of income, education and life expectancy.

Development gap

The difference in wealth and wellbeing between richer and poorer countries.

NEE

Newly emerging economy experiencing rapid industrial growth.

TNC

Transnational corporation operating in more than one country.

Intermediate technology

Affordable, locally maintainable technology suited to local needs.

Common exam traps

• Using GNI per head alone as proof of development — it ignores distribution and quality of life.
• Saying aid always helps; short-term aid can create dependency if not paired with local capacity.
• Confusing the demographic transition model stages with population pyramids themselves.

Practice questions with answers

1. 1. Which measure combines income, education and life expectancy?

   • • GNI
   • • HDI
   • • Birth rate
   • • Infant mortality

   Answer: HDI

   HDI is a composite index scored 0 to 1.

2. 2. Explain one limitation of using GNI per head to measure development.

   Answer: It is an average that hides inequality between rich and poor within a country

   Averages conceal distribution.

3. 3. In DTM stage 2, what happens?

   • • Birth and death rates both high
   • • Death rate falls while birth rate stays high
   • • Both rates low
   • • Birth rate rises sharply

   Answer: Death rate falls while birth rate stays high

   Improved healthcare and sanitation cut deaths first, so population grows fast.

4. 4. Which is a physical cause of uneven development?

   • • Colonial history
   • • Landlocked position with no port access
   • • Unfair trade terms
   • • Debt repayments

   Answer: Landlocked position with no port access

   Physical causes relate to location, climate, hazards and resources.

5. 5. Explain how reliance on primary product exports can limit development.

   Answer: Prices are volatile and low value-added, so income is unstable and little processing wealth stays in the country

   Value is added further along the supply chain abroad.

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