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examBoard: Cambridge
examType: IGCSE
lessonTitle: Development Questions
Development is a key theme in your iGCSE Geography Paper 2. It's all about how countries improve the quality of life and economic wellbeing of their people. Paper 2 often asks you to explain development differences, evaluate strategies, or analyse development indicators.
Key Definitions:
GDP per capita: The total value of goods and services produced by a country divided by its population.
GNI per capita: Similar to GDP but includes income from abroad.
Economic structure: The balance between primary, secondary and tertiary sectors.
Life expectancy: Average number of years a person is expected to live.
Literacy rate: Percentage of population who can read and write.
Infant mortality rate: Number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births.
While GDP is commonly used to measure development, it has limitations. That's why composite indicators that combine multiple measures have been developed.
Human Development Index combines life expectancy, education and income. Scale of 0-1, with higher values indicating greater development.
Gender Development Index measures gender inequalities in achievement in health, education and command over economic resources.
Human Poverty Index measures deprivations in health, education and standard of living.
No single indicator gives a complete picture of development. Here's why:
The world has significant disparities in development levels. Understanding these gaps is crucial for Paper 2 questions.
Several factors contribute to development disparities between countries:
Colonialism: Many countries were exploited for resources, with little investment in infrastructure or education.
Conflict: Wars and civil unrest disrupt development and destroy infrastructure.
Climate: Extreme climates can limit agricultural productivity.
Natural resources: Countries with valuable resources may develop faster (but can suffer from the "resource curse").
Landlocked position: Limited access to global trade routes.
Various approaches exist to promote development and reduce global inequalities:
Types: Bilateral, multilateral, emergency, long-term
Advantages: Immediate relief, can target specific needs
Disadvantages: Dependency, corruption risks, unsustainable
Fair trade: Better prices for producers
Free trade: Reduced tariffs and barriers
Issues: Unequal terms of trade, exploitation
FDI: Foreign Direct Investment in factories, infrastructure
Microfinance: Small loans to entrepreneurs
Issues: Profit repatriation, exploitation
Development questions often require you to:
Rwanda has made remarkable progress since the 1994 genocide:
Key strategies included investing in education, healthcare and technology while promoting gender equality and environmental sustainability.
Approach: Identify 3-4 key factors (historical, geographical, economic, political), explain each with examples and show how they interconnect.
Example: "One reason for development variations is colonial history. Countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo were exploited for resources without investment in infrastructure or education, creating a lasting disadvantage."
Approach: Define types of aid, give examples of successful and unsuccessful aid projects, consider short vs long-term impacts and provide a balanced conclusion.
Example: "While emergency aid saved lives after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, long-term reconstruction aid was less effective due to poor coordination and lack of local involvement."
Question: "Explain why some development indicators are more useful than others."
Paragraph 1: Define development indicators and their purpose
Paragraph 2: Explain advantages of economic indicators like GDP (easy to measure, allows comparison) with examples
Paragraph 3: Explain limitations of economic indicators (inequality, informal economy) with examples
Paragraph 4: Explain advantages of composite indicators like HDI (broader picture) with examples
Conclusion: Brief summary highlighting that different indicators serve different purposes
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