Paper 2 Preparation » Economic Geography Questions

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

How to identify and tackle economic geography questions in Paper 2
Key economic development indicators and terminology
Understanding development gaps and disparities
Case studies of economic development in contrasting countries
Strategies for answering data response questions about economic issues
Techniques for interpreting economic graphs, charts and statistics

Introduction to Economic Geography Questions

Economic geography questions in Paper 2 test your understanding of how economic activities vary across the world and why some places are more developed than others. These questions often include data interpretation, case studies analysis and require you to explain economic patterns and processes.

Key Definitions:

Economic Development: The process of improving people's quality of life and wellbeing through economic growth.
Development Indicators: Measurements used to assess a country's level of development.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The total value of goods and services produced in a country.
Human Development Index (HDI): A composite measure that includes life expectancy, education and income.

📈 Types of Economic Questions

Paper 2 economic questions typically fall into these categories:

Data response: Interpreting economic statistics, graphs or charts
Case study application: Applying your knowledge to specific examples
Development comparisons: Explaining differences between countries
Economic challenges: Discussing issues like poverty or inequality

📝 Answering Techniques

For economic geography questions:

Always refer to the data/resources provided
Use specific terminology and development indicators
Support points with relevant case studies
Consider different scales (local, national, global)
Discuss both causes and consequences

Development Indicators

Examiners expect you to understand and use a range of development indicators in your answers. These help you compare countries and explain development patterns.

Economic Indicators

These measure the economic performance and wealth of a country:

💰 GDP per capita

The total economic output divided by population. Higher values typically indicate greater economic development.

Example: UK = $46,510, Ethiopia = $936 (2021)

💼 Employment Structure

The percentage of people working in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. More developed countries have higher tertiary employment.

💳 Income Distribution

Measured by the Gini coefficient (0-100). Lower values show more equal income distribution.

Example: Denmark = 28.2, South Africa = 63 (more unequal)

Social Indicators

These measure quality of life and wellbeing:

🏥 Literacy Rate

Percentage of adults who can read and write. Higher rates indicate better education systems.

🎓 Life Expectancy

Average number of years a person is expected to live. Reflects healthcare quality and living standards.

👪 Infant Mortality

Deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births. Lower rates indicate better healthcare.

The Development Gap

The development gap refers to the difference in development levels between countries. Paper 2 often asks you to explain these differences and their causes.

🔃 Causes of the Development Gap

Historical factors: Colonialism, exploitation of resources
Physical factors: Climate, natural resources, landlocked location
Economic factors: Trade relationships, debt, globalisation
Political factors: Governance, corruption, conflict
Social factors: Education levels, gender inequality

📊 Measuring the Gap

The world is often divided into categories:

High Income Countries (HICs): GDP per capita > $12,696
Middle Income Countries (MICs): GDP per capita $1,046-$12,695
Low Income Countries (LICs): GDP per capita < $1,045
Newly Emerging Economies (NEEs): Rapidly industrialising countries like China, India, Brazil

Case Study Focus: Nigeria - An NEE

Nigeria is Africa's largest economy and a good example of an NEE for Paper 2 questions:

Rapid economic growth (GDP grew 3.3% in 2022)
Oil accounts for 80% of export earnings
Growing manufacturing and service sectors
Significant development challenges remain:

40% of population lives in poverty
Huge regional inequalities (North-South divide)
HDI rank: 163 out of 191 countries (2021)
Corruption and political instability

Interpreting Economic Data

Paper 2 often includes graphs, charts and tables with economic data. You need to be able to interpret these and draw conclusions.

Types of Data Representation

Be prepared to analyse:

Line graphs: Showing change over time (e.g., GDP growth)
Bar charts: Comparing values between countries or regions
Pie charts: Showing proportions (e.g., employment sectors)
Scatter graphs: Showing correlation between two variables
Choropleth maps: Showing spatial patterns of development

🔍 Data Analysis Tips

When answering data-based questions:

Identify overall patterns and trends
Look for anomalies or exceptions
Use specific figures from the data
Compare different regions or time periods
Suggest reasons for the patterns you observe
Link to wider geographical concepts

⚠ Common Pitfalls

Avoid these mistakes in Paper 2:

Simply describing data without analysis
Not using specific figures from the resources
Ignoring anomalies or contradictions
Using vague terms like "a lot" instead of precise language
Failing to link to geographical theories or concepts
Not considering limitations of the data

Reducing the Development Gap

Questions often ask about strategies to reduce development disparities. Be prepared to evaluate different approaches.

🌐 International Aid

Types: Emergency aid, bilateral aid, multilateral aid

Advantages: Immediate impact, addresses specific needs

Disadvantages: Dependency, corruption, unsustainable

🚀 Investment

Types: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), microfinance

Advantages: Creates jobs, transfers technology, sustainable

Disadvantages: Profit repatriation, exploitation, uneven benefits

🏠 Intermediate Technology

Approach: Affordable, small-scale, appropriate solutions

Advantages: Locally managed, sustainable, empowering

Example: Water pumps, solar cookers, biogas generators

Case Study Focus: Bangladesh - Development Progress

Bangladesh provides an excellent case study of development progress:

Moved from LIC to lower-middle-income status in 2015
GDP growth averaged 6.5% over past decade
Garment industry employs 4 million people (mostly women)
Life expectancy increased from 58 years (1990) to 73 years (2021)
Poverty rate fell from 44% (1991) to 14.3% (2016)
Successful development strategies included:

Microfinance through Grameen Bank
Investment in female education
Export-oriented industrialisation
NGO partnerships (e.g., BRAC)

Exam Technique for Economic Questions

Applying good exam technique will help you maximise your marks in Paper 2 economic questions.

✅ Command Words

Pay attention to these common command words:

Describe: Say what you can see in the data
Explain: Give reasons for patterns or relationships
Compare: Identify similarities and differences
Evaluate: Discuss advantages and disadvantages
To what extent: Consider different factors and their importance

💡 PEEL Paragraph Structure

Structure your answers using PEEL:

Point: Make a clear statement
Evidence: Support with data or examples
Explanation: Explain the geographical processes
Link: Connect back to the question

This helps ensure your answers are focused and developed.

Final Tips for Paper 2 Economic Questions

Learn key development indicators and their limitations
Memorise specific figures for your case studies
Practice interpreting different types of economic data
Consider multiple perspectives (economic, social, environmental)
Link economic development to other geographical themes (e.g., urbanisation, population)
Use geographical terminology accurately
Always refer to the resources provided in the exam

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!