Case Studies

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Key words:

• Sustainability: The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations.
• Sustainable Development: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own need
• Development geography: process of change that affects people’s lives, quality of life, and living standards
  • Economic development: measure of a country’s wealth and how it is generated
  • Human development: measures the access the population has to wealth, jobs, education, nutrition, health, leisure, safety and political and cultural freedom
• MNCs: Companies with headquarters in one country and subsidiaries worldwide (e.g., Ford, Apple, McDonald’s, Carrefour).
• TNCs: Companies spread globally without a strong national identity, adapting decision-making to local markets </aside>

indicators of development

• Economic Indicators: assess a country’s wealth and production

  • Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Total value of goods and services produced within a country in a year.
  • Gross National Product (GNP): Total economic output of a country, including foreign investments and expenditures.
  • GNP per capita: A country’s GNP divided by its population.
  • Economic Growth: Annual increase in GDP, GNP, or per capita values.
  • Inequality of Wealth: The gap in income between the richest and poorest in a country.
  • Inflation: Increase in the prices of goods, services, and wages per year.
  • Unemployment: Number of people unable to find work.
  • Economic Structure: Division of the economy (primary, secondary, tertiary sectors).
  • Demographics: Study of population growth and structure (birth/death rates, life expectancy, urban-rural ratios).

• Human Development Indicators: focus on the well-being and quality of life of the population

  • Life Expectancy: Average age a person is expected to live.
  • Infant Mortality Rate: Number of babies per 1000 live births who die before age one.
  • Poverty Rate: Percentage of people living below the poverty line.
  • Access to Basic Services: Availability of essential services like water, electricity, and sanitation.
  • Access to Healthcare: Availability of hospitals, doctors, and medical services.
  • Risk of Disease: Percentage of people affected by diseases like AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
  • Access to Education: Percentage of the population attending primary, secondary, and higher education.
  • Literacy Rate: Percentage of adults who can read and write.
  • Access to Technology: Availability of mobile phones, internet, and televisions.
  • Gender Equality: Comparison of literacy and employment rates between males and females.
  • Government Spending Priorities: Comparison of health and education expenditure with military and debt payments.

medcs vs. ledcs

More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs)

• Highly developed economies with advanced technological infrastructure.
• Example: Russia
  • Life Expectancy: 73.12 years
  • Literacy Rate: 99.7%
  • Poverty Rate: 7.2%
  • Unemployment Rate: 2.3%
  • GDP: $8.134 trillion (PPP)

Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs)

• Non-industrialized, poorer countries aiming to develop through industrialization.
• Example: Chad
  • Life Expectancy: 54.0 years
  • Literacy Rate: 26.8%
  • Poverty Rate: 42.3%
  • Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
  • GDP: $16.23 billion

What affects a country’s development:

natural resources & consumption

• Extraction: Withdrawing materials from the environment for human use.
• Production: Acquisition and utilization of natural resources for economic and strategic purposes.
• Consumption: Use of non-renewable resources (e.g., fossil fuels, metal ores).
• Resource Depletion: Renewable resources can deplete if used faster than they replenish.

economic sectors

• Primary: Extraction of natural resources (fishing, mining, agriculture).
• Secondary: Manufacturing and industry (factories, refineries).
• Tertiary: Services (retail, healthcare, finance).
• Quaternary: Knowledge-based industries (IT, research, education).