Global Variations in Levels of Development (Edexcel GCSE Geography A)
Revision Note
Global Pattern of Development
The global pattern of development is uneven
Levels of development vary on a local, national and international scale
There are differences between areas of the same city, the same country and between countries
The UK is more developed than Mexico, but Egypt is less developed than Mexico
Some of these differences include:
Literacy rates
Life expectancy
Infant mortality
Doctors per 1,000 people
Energy consumption per person
Internet access
Car ownership
Each country can be placed into one of three categories
Characteristics of Countries at Various Levels of Development
Level of Development | Characteristics |
Developing | Least-developed and developing countries with high levels of poverty GNI per capita is low Low standard of living for most of the population; low human development (LHD) |
Emerging | Levels of wealth are increasing; high and medium human development (HMHD) Secondary economic activities are increasing, and primary ones are decreasing More exports Increased wages Economy is in transition |
Developed | Good level of services High Gross National Income (GNI) per capita High standard of living for most of the population; very high human development (VHHD) Tertiary economic activities are dominant |
Global pattern of development
Exam Tip
Remember, increasing wealth is not equally distributed. In all countries, some people will have more wealth, and some areas will have better economic development. Often, as a country develops, the gap between the rich and poor increases.
Factors Leading to Variations in Development
There are a range of factors that have led to this variation between and within countries, including the UK
Factors include:
Physical:
The size of the country
Natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanoes
The climate of the country
Position of the country: landlocked or coastal
Historic:
Colonial links
Trading relationships
Economic:
Level of debt
Type of economy
Level of investment in health, education and infrastructure
Uneven development within the UK
The political, regional, and economic gap of the UK is called the North-South Divide
The divide highlights the disparities in wealth between the North and South of the UK, which stretch from the Severn in Gloucestershire to Wash Bay in Norfolk
The UK has always looked at the North as its poorer relative
Inequality in the UK
Factor | Characteristic |
Physical | The remoteness and accessibility of some areas reduce the potential for industrial activities |
Historical | Aggressive deindustrialisation, privatisation, and the Housing Act all widened the gap between the North and the South of England. The North has always been linked to heavy industry. |
Economic | Employment rates and salaries are lower in the North than in the South. House prices are higher in the South. The level of government investment is lower in the North. |
The North of England is generally an area of Labour politics, traditional manufacturing industries (shipbuilding, mining, and steel production), which are often based on raw materials such as coal, and a reliance on public services
The South is a region of Conservative politics, private enterprise, offices, and particularly financial services, with London as the dominant centre, which has increased income and the value of property in the south
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