Classifying CountriesMeasuring Development

Grouping Countries• Measuring the degree to which a country actively

participates in the globalized world

• Three major areas for consideration:

1) Economic Development – a country’s material wealth and trade, which is determined by its GDP/capita, ratios of cars to people, and per capita electrical power capacity for example;

2) Social Development – level of education, healthcare, life expectancy, and rate of infant mortality;

3) Political Maturity – measured by considering factors such as whether a country is democratic, has a low level of corruption, a functioning and established electoral system and rule of law.

GROUPING COUNTRIES

Measuring Social and Economic Development

• The UN Human Development Index (HDI)

• Identify the top 10 countries with the highest HDI and the bottom 10 with the lowest

• What patterns do you observe on the HDI ranking list?

Other Indicators

• At your table, choose 3 other indicators from the list of examples on page 42 of your textbook. Discuss the following:

a) What the indicator might reveal about the social and economic development of the country and how/why;

b) What the indicator does NOT tell us about the country’s level of development

Mapping a Developing Worldhttp://worldmap.canadiangeographic.ca/

• Analyze the CIDA graded-shaded world map and select three countries to compare – one from the low, medium and high HDI ranking. Compare the following:

• Population• Life expectancy (male/female)• Primary school enrollment• GDP/capita

CIDA Map Activity• In your group, use the map, graphs and written section of the CIDA map

entitled Canadians making a difference in the world

Answer the following questions on your laptop (Compare Canada to another country in Africa:1. Roughly how many people live in extreme poverty throughout the world?2. Identify the top three regions of the world where most people survive on less than $1/day.3. Brainstorm a few reasons that might explain the low level of development in these regions. 4. According to CIDA, what is needed in order for social and economic development to begin in a country?5. Analyze the global literacy graph at the bottom of the map. Make two observations about the trends on the graph. What might account for these trends?