We live in an unequal world, where the gap between prosperity and poverty is widening. This topic asks learners to consider the changing nature and distribution of countries along the development spectrum before examining the complex causes of uneven development. The future for LIDCs is uncertain and will be investigated through an in-depth study of one country, considering its development journey so far, how its global connections may influence the future and possible alternative development strategies.
6.1 Why are some countries richer than others?
a. What is development and how can it be measured?
- Definition of ‘development’ and the ways in which countries can be classified, such as AC, EDC and LIDC.
- Global distribution of ACs, EDCs and LIDCs.
- Economic and social measures of development, such as GNI per capita and Human Development Index, and how they illustrate the consequences of uneven development.
b. What has led to uneven development?
- Outline the human and physical factors influencing global uneven development.
- Explore the factors that make it hard for countries to break out of poverty, including debt, trade and political unrest.
6.2 Are LIDCs likely to stay poor?
This enquiry question is studied through one case study of an LIDC to answer sub-questions a, b and c.
a. How has an LIDC developed so far?
- Overview of the economic development of an LIDC, including influences of population, society, technology and politics, particularly in the past 50 years, or post-independence.
- Explore whether Rostow’s model can help determine the country’s path of economic development.
- The extent to which the relevant Millennium Development Goals have been achieved for this LIDC.
- Investigate how the LIDC’s wider political, social and environmental context has affected its development.
b. What global connections influence its development?
- The country’s international trade, such as potential reliance on a single, or few, commodities and how this influences development.
- The benefits and problems of trade and Trans National Company (TNC) investment for development.
- The advantages and disadvantages of international aid or debt relief for its development.
c. What development strategy is most appropriate?