Development and HealthDifferences

Inequalities Between Developing Countries [Date]

Today I will:- Know the reasons why there are differences between developing countries.

Development and HealthDifferences

There are over 100 Developing countries. They are not all at the same low level of development and are not equally poor. They range

from the extremely impoverished Afghanistan to the Newly Industrialised Countries (NICs) of South Korea and Brazil.

Development and HealthDifferences

Why do developing countries have different levels of development?

[A] They have different levels of mineral reserves (e.g. vast levels of oil in Saudi Arabia).

[B] Countries can sell resources to make money and companies (e.g. oil) will pay taxes and provide jobs for the locals.

“Saudi Arabia to generate record-high oil revenues in 2012”

$288 billion

Development and HealthDifferences

[A] Political Instability is a factor as many countries have unstable regimes or aresuffering from border/civil wars (e.g. South Sudan)

[B] A country will not develop if its working age population are fighting instead ofworking on farms and in factories. Roads, factories and farmland may also be

bombedor destroyed.

Development and HealthDifferences

[A] Natural disasters can have an impact on the level of development (e.g. floods in Bangladesh).

[B] They can limit progress as development money is spent on repairing roads, buildings and railways. Farmland and factories can also be destroyed.

60% of Bangladesh is flooded every year!

Development and HealthDifferences

[A] In some countries the government is very corrupt (e.g. Zimbabwe)

[B] This means that most of the money is in the hands of a few people who may not use it to improve the standard of living in the country.

Development and HealthDifferences

[A] The level of tourism is also important (e.g. Brazil).

[B] The growth of tourism has increased job opportunities and living standards andearns valuable foreign currency. This money can be invested in developing the countryfurther.

Development and HealthDifferences

[A] Strategic locations are also important as some countries have airports or ports which foreign navies may need to use in times of war (e.g. Singapore).

[B] They might be in an important location for a superpower who gives them money (e.g. Pakistan next to Afghanistan).

Development and HealthDifferences

[A] The level of disease is a further issue (e.g. 28% of Lesotho suffer from AIDs).

[B] This affects the labour force in the country as people are too unwell to work. Children may need to stay at home to look after ill family members which hinders their education.

Development and HealthDifferences

[2009a] Explain the advantages of using a composite indicator of development such as the HDI rather than a single indicator [6 marks]

[Question] Look at the table of indicators below. The table shows that there are considerable differences in levels of development between countries in the developing world. With reference to these countries and/or other countries in the developing world with which you are familiar, suggest reasons why variations in levels of development occur between countries. [12 marks]

Indicators of development for selected countries in the developing world

Development Indicator Bangladesh Jamaica Nigeria

GNP/capita (US$) 350 1680 300Infant mortality per

1000 live births 108 14 96

Calorie intake per day 2086 2932 2735