Examine the view that rapid population growth will prevent some countries from meeting their Millennium development

goals? (15) 

• Population growth increases pressure on food affecting MDG1c of halving the number of people living in hunger - e.g. Sub Saharan Africa where population growth is still very high and will overtake India as fastest growing region in the world. 

• Population growth increases the pressures on education provision. The aim to provide universal education for all is affected by population growth. However, population growth is likely to decrease as a result of education therefore may not prevent MDGs being achieved in the long term. 

• Population growth may not have a significant impact on health if there is enough provision and development of health care facilities and a commitment to improve health care. 

• A youthful population may be of benefit to the wealth of a country because it increases the number of economically active, attracting investment. Even better if they are literate! 

• The MDGs don't focus specifically on population growth but this may be affected by their achievement.

• Other factors might have more significant impacts such as migration, war, corruption, economic crises. 

Syllabus Content

• Discuss the different ways in which disparities can be reduced with an emphasis on trade and market access, debt relief, aid and remittances.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of strategies designed to reduce disparities.

Section 4- Reducing Disparities

Key terms • Free trade • Trade barriers • Protectionist policies• Tariffs • Subsidies • Private sector • Public sector • Foreign direct investment• World Trade Organisation • Marxist approach • Populist approach • Top down • Bottom up

Key theories

• Modernisation theory • To develop means to become ‘modern’ by adopting Western cultural values

and social institutions.

• It is suggested that undeveloped societies subscribe to value systems and institutions that hinder the development process.

Rostow’s theory of modernisation

Criticisms of modernisation theory

• It implies that traditional values and institutions have little or no value compared with their Western equivalents.

• It assumes Western forms of capitalism to be the ideal and conveniently ignores the social and economic problems that are common in those societies, e.g. high divorce-rates, crime, poverty, suicide, etc.

• Western encouragement of LDC élites has created inequalities in wealth and power which have led to human-rights abuses. In particular, the USA has propped up abusive right-wing regimes because they are anti-communist.

• In its emphasis on internal obstacles, modernisation theory underestimates the external obstacles to development

Neo liberal theory

• Approach to economic development in support of free trade, reduction of government spending and intervention in economic matters

• Increase in private sector activities (as shown in NICs)

• Encourages free enterprise and free competition

• Encourages investment (FDI)

Marxist approaches

• Critics argue wealth is uneven with a neo liberalist approach

• Development gap has therefore widened

• Governments need to intervene to ensure a fairer distribution of wealth within countries

Marxist approaches

• Top down planning

• production and economic activity on the criteria of satisfying human needs

• Therefore production would be carried out directly for use and not for private profit.

Populist approaches

• A Grass roots approach

• A more pragmatic approach to maximise the development impact of funding

• NGOs such as Water Aid apply bottom up strategies to lead to economic growth

Water Aid – Populist approach

Key Definitions

• Disparity

• Marginalisation

• Development Gap

Core and Periphery

• Having looked at the Gini Co-efficient and Lorenz curve, it is clear that wealth is not equally distributed.

• 15% of the global population enjoy 75% of the wealth.

• Globally, we can separate countries into 2 groups, the CORE and the PERIPHERY.

Reduction of Global Disparities

The following are all strategies that can lead to the reduction of disparities.

• trade• market access• fairtrade• debt relief• aid• remittances

1. Define these terms.

2. Use the links document I have sent to research: what they are, how they reduce disparities, and evaluate how successful they have been.

TRADEMARKET ACCESS

FAIRTRADE DEBT RELIEF AID REMITTANCE

What is it?

How does it reduce disparities?

How successful has it been in reducing

disparities?