1. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CONCEPTS of DEVELOPMENT
Consider Table 21-1. Identify the 5 highest GNP’s Per
Capita and the 5 lowest GNP’s Per Capita.
Does the U.S. have the highest GNP Per Capita?
What similar characteristics do the 5 with the highest
GNP’s Per Capita have? What similar characteristics do
the 5 with the lowest GNP’s Per Capita have?

4. DEVELOPED and DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Economists & geographers use a variety of criteria to describe the wide disparities in the
global economy. The concept of development is a complicated one, but there are
benchmarks to provide a profile. A major criteria is demographic data.
Approx. 81% of the world’s population
is in less developed countries, but
about 93% of the population growth
during the past four decades has
occurred in these countries.

8. This fast population growth has forced some developing countries, such as China, to resort
to drastic action, including instituting a one-child policy.

9. Another demographic distinction is the population’s age distribution. Older populations
are found in developed countries, while younger populations are found in developing
countries.

10. The age distributions for developed and developing countries create different
challenges and/or problems for each. Identify the population problems confronting
both developed & developing countries.

11. The percentage of urban versus rural residents is a strong indicator of development.
Generally, the higher the urbanization rate, the more developed the country is.

12. Economic indicators are valuable variables in determining development. All countries are
engaged in farming. In developing countries farming is more labor intensive and is a
major economic activity.

13. In contrast, commercial farming dominates in developed countries, which comprises only a
fraction of the workforce.

14. Regarding general economic variables, developed economies are dominated by a high-tech
service sector. Any industry is highly automated, and farming is the smallest sector of
the economy. Developing countries are dominated by either labor-intensive farming or
labor-intensive industry. The service sector is the smallest part of the economy.

15. When you tally all of the economic variables, developed countries enjoy an affluence that
developing countries can only dream about.

16. In the developing world, many people continue to live
in much the same ways as their ancestors, and the
future does not promise much, if any, modern
improvements.

17. Even something as common as watching t.v. can be markedly different when comparing
developed and developing countries.

18. With greater affluence comes more leisure time. Residents in developing have little to
no leisure time. In contrast, residents in developed countries have the energy and time
to engage in a wide variety of leisure and recreational activities.

19. Another gauge of affluence is consumption. Developed countries consume at a disproportionate rate,
and they produce a tremendous amount of consumer waste, which is threatening resources and the
environment.

20. Consumption and waste production are relatively low in developing countries – when you are
poor and have little, there is little to throw away. But as some developing countries
continue to develop, their consumption and waste production will add to global
environmental problems.

21. The category of health variables is a valuable indicator of development. The most
commonly applied health variable is life expectancy. Developed countries enjoy high life
expectancies that continue to increase. Developing countries are plagued with lower life
expectancies.

22. Geographers consider answers to the following question: what factors contribute to a
higher or lower life expectancy? The first factor is availability of health care. Developed
countries have the resources and technologies to detect and cure health problems.
Developing countries do not have these resources or technologies.

23. Another vital factor determining life expectancy is diet. Residents of developed
countries enjoy abundance and a wide variety of food year-round. Many staple foods
would be considered rare luxuries in developing countries.

24. Infant mortality is yet another indicator of development. Developed countries have low
infant mortality rates that continue to decrease. Developing countries, in many cases,
have alarmingly high infant mortality rates.

25. A country’s ability to care for the health and welfare of its children is a factor of
development. Developed country’s have the resources to better care for its children.
Developing countries lack the resources to care for the health and welfare of its
children.

26. In the category of education, there are striking differences between developed and
developing countries. Developed countries much higher literacy rates than developing
countries.

27. The reasons for the wide educational disparity include a serious shortage of buildings,
books, equipment, teachers and money.

28. In some developing countries, girls are either shut-out of educational opportunities, or
they only attend school through the primary grades. With up to half of their populations
either uneducated or under-educated, these countries may never turn the corner to fully
developing.

29. Infrastructure development demonstrates the degree of modernization. Developed
countries have the resources to develop, build, and maintain a complex infrastructure
network. Developing countries are decades or more behind. This affects economic
development.

30. The degree of internal stability and tranquility is a measure of development. Developed
countries are known for stability and tranquility. Conversely, many developing countries
are characterized by internal instability and violence. This often results in refugee
problems.

31. Politically,the established developed countries are working democracies. Authoritarian
political systems and/or unstable fragile democracies are the trademark of developing
countries.

34. Refer to Fig. 21-1 (pp. 286-287). Is the world dominated by high income economies? Which
type(s) of economies dominate the world?
Obviously, many statistics are used as criteria to classify countries in terms of development.
Identify and explain the benefits of using these statistics and the pitfalls (problems) of using
them.
Refer once again to Fig. 21-1 (pp. 286-287). Apply the core-periphery model to the world
economies. Use the map to provide examples.
For the periphery, identify and explain the various demographic, economic, and social ills.
Describe the regional disparities found in the periphery.

35. Explain whether you believe it is a responsibility of the wealthier countries to provide
aid to the poorer ones. Many core countries, including the U.S., send millions of dollars
to individual countries. Misuse of aid by corrupt periphery governments threaten this aid.

36. TOURISM: BOON or BANE?
Peripheral countries throughout the world have become the destination for millions of tourists from
richer countries. On the surface, it would appear that tourism as an industry is a very positive
economic activity for these poorer countries. But many economic geographers argue that tourism has
been a formidable obstacle to economic development in the periphery. Identify and explain their
reasons.

37. MODELS of DEVELOPMENT
Identify and describe the 3 models of development.
Explain dependence theory.