GCSE Geography: The Changing Economic World Guide

Measuring development

Development can be measured using economic indicators (like GNI per capita) and social indicators (like literacy rate and life expectancy). The Human Development Index (HDI) combines several measures for a fuller picture.

The development gap

There is a significant gap in development between countries, influenced by factors including historical colonisation, trade, physical geography, and access to safe water and education.

The demographic transition model

This model shows how birth rates, death rates and population change over time as a country develops, moving through stages from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates.

Reducing the development gap

Strategies include investment, industrial development, fair trade, debt relief and aid (both short-term emergency aid and longer-term development aid), each with different advantages and drawbacks.

Common mistakes

• Relying on a single indicator (like GNI) to judge development, ignoring social factors.
• Mixing up the stages of the demographic transition model.
• Describing a strategy without evaluating its effectiveness or drawbacks.