Edexcel GCSE Geography: Development and Human Welfar

Key Takeaways: Development and Human Welfare (GCSE Geography)

1. Understanding Development

• Definition: Development encompasses economic, social, political, and demographic progress.
  • Economic: GDP growth, industrialisation.
  • Social: Equal opportunities, education access.
  • Political: Democratic rights (e.g., voting).
  • Demographic: Rising life expectancy.
• Key Drivers:
  • Resources: Physical (climate, minerals) + Human (skilled workers).
  • External Boosters: Globalisation, TNCs, trade blocs (e.g., China’s industrial growth via foreign investment).
  • Internal Boosters: Government policies, business culture (e.g., China’s shift to capitalism).
• Outcomes: Sectoral shifts (primary → tertiary), environmental impacts, rising living standards.

2. Development Indicators

Human Development Index (HDI):

• Combines income, literacy, and life expectancy.
• Formula:
  HDI=Income Index+Education Index+Life Expectancy Index3HDI=3Income Index+Education Index+Life Expectancy Index​
• Scores range 0–1 (e.g., Norway ≈ 0.95, Niger ≈ 0.35).

3. Country Classifications

• LICs: GNI ≤ $1,025/year (e.g., Ethiopia, Haiti).
• MICs: Split into Lower (1,026–1,026–4,035) and Upper (4,036–4,036–12,475) (e.g., India, Ecuador).
• HICs: GNI ≥ $12,476 (e.g., USA, Japan).
• Global Patterns:
  • HICs dominate in the “Global North” (e.g., Europe, North America).
  • LICs concentrated in Africa; MICs vary widely (e.g., China vs South Africa).

4. Development Gaps

• Between Countries:
  • Emerging Economies: BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China) closing the gap via industrialisation.
  • Stagnating Economies: Hindered by corruption, debt (e.g., Congo, Zimbabwe).
• Within Countries:
  • Core vs Periphery:
    • Core: Prosperous regions with infrastructure (e.g., SE England).
    • Periphery: Remote, underdeveloped areas (e.g., Scottish Highlands).
  • Urban Inequalities: Affluent suburbs vs deprived inner cities (e.g., London).

5. Population Growth & Management

• Causes in LICs: High birth rates (lack of education, child labour) + falling death rates (healthcare).
• Consequences:
  • Overcrowding, unemployment, strain on infrastructure (e.g., Mumbai’s slums).
• Policies:
  • China’s One-Child Policy (1979–2015): Reduced population by 300 million but caused gender imbalance.
  • Germany’s Pro-Natal Policies: Tax breaks, parental leave to boost birth rates.

6. Reducing Development Gaps

• Aid:
  • Multilateral: Via organisations (e.g., World Bank projects).
  • Bilateral: Direct government aid (often with conditions).
• Trade:
  • Fairtrade agreements (e.g., coffee farmers in Uganda).
• Debt Relief: HIPC Initiative cancels debt for 30 LICs (e.g., Mozambique).

7. Exam Tips

1. Command Words:
   • Explain: Provide causes and effects (e.g., “Explain China’s industrial growth”).
   • Discuss: Weigh advantages/disadvantages (e.g., “Discuss the North-South divide model”).
2. Case Studies:
   • Regional Disparities: China (coastal vs inland disparities).
   • Population Management: China’s one-child policy/Germany’s incentives.
3. Timing:
   • Spend ~1 minute per mark (e.g., 9 marks = 9 minutes).
4. Diagrams:
   • Label clearly (e.g., HDI components, core-periphery model).

Key Rule: Always link examples to concepts (e.g., “China’s industrial growth was driven by internal boosters like government policies”). Use statistics (e.g., “120 males per 100 females in China”) to strengthen answers.

50 GCSE Geography Questions: Development and Human Welfare

Section A: Definitions & Concepts

1. Define economic development.
2. What is the difference between GDP and GNI?
3. Explain the term ‘sectoral shift’.
4. What does HDI stand for, and what three indicators does it combine?
5. Define the ‘development gap’.

Section B: Development Indicators

6. Calculate HDI if a country has an income index of 0.8, education index of 0.7, and life expectancy index of 0.9.
7. Why might GNI per capita be misleading when comparing countries?
8. Compare infant mortality rates in the UK and Mali using 2012 data.
9. Explain two limitations of using birth rate as a development indicator.
10. How does energy consumption reflect a country’s development level?

Section C: Country Classifications

11. Classify a country with a GNI per capita of $3,000.
12. Why is China classified as an Upper MIC despite its large economy?
13. Name two HICs and two LICs from the 2011 data.
14. Why is the MIC category considered problematic?
15. Describe the global distribution of LICs.

Section D: Development Gaps

16. What are ‘core’ and ‘periphery’ regions? Provide examples.
17. Explain how multiplier effects worsen regional inequalities.
18. Why might urban areas in HICs still have poverty?
19. Discuss two factors that make core regions advantageous.
20. How does climate affect development in periphery regions?

Section E: Population Growth & Policies

21. Why do LICs experience rapid population growth?
22. Describe two consequences of rapid population growth in LICs.
23. Evaluate the success of China’s one-child policy.
24. Why is Germany encouraging higher birth rates?
25. What is ‘natural increase’?

Section F: Reducing Development Gaps

26. Compare multilateral and bilateral aid.
27. How does Fairtrade help LICs?
28. What is the HIPC Initiative, and which countries benefit?
29. Explain why ‘appropriate aid’ is more effective.
30. Why do trade blocs disadvantage LICs?

Section G: Case Studies

31. Outline the factors behind China’s industrial expansion.
32. Describe regional disparities in China.
33. How has the BRIC group influenced global development?
34. Explain the causes of shanty towns in LIC cities.
35. Discuss the impact of TNCs on LICs.

Section H: Analysis & Evaluation

36. Is the North-South divide still relevant today? Justify your answer.
37. Evaluate the limitations of the HDI.
38. Why might GDP growth not improve quality of life?
39. Discuss whether debt relief is the best way to reduce development gaps.
40. Are TNCs more beneficial or harmful to LICs?

Section I: Data Interpretation

41. A country has a birth rate of 25/1000 and a death rate of 8/1000. Calculate its natural increase.
42. Using Figure 9.4, how many countries were classified as HICs in 2012?
43. Interpret the trend in global population growth from 1800–2050 (Figure 9.7).
44. A country spends 15% of its GDP on education. What does this indicate about its priorities?
45. If a nation’s HDI rises from 0.5 to 0.7, what improvements might have occurred?

Section J: Extended Response

46. Discuss the role of government intervention in economic development.
47. Explain how globalisation has widened or narrowed development gaps.
48. Evaluate strategies to manage population changes in one country.
49. “Aid is ineffective.” To what extent do you agree?
50. Analyse the causes and consequences of regional disparities within a country.

Detailed Answers

1. Economic development refers to improvements in a country’s economic prosperity, often measured by GDP growth, industrialisation, and employment shifts (e.g., primary to tertiary sectors).
2. GDP measures total economic output within a country, while GNI includes GDP plus net income from abroad (e.g., remittances).
3. Sectoral shift is the transition from primary (farming) to secondary (manufacturing) and tertiary (services) sectors as a country develops.
4. HDI (Human Development Index) combines income (GNI per capita), education (literacy/schooling), and life expectancy. Formula:
   HDI=Income Index+Education Index+Life Expectancy Index3HDI=3Income Index+Education Index+Life Expectancy Index​
5. Development gap: The disparity in living standards between HICs and LICs (e.g., Norway vs Niger).
6. HDI Calculation:
   HDI=0.8+0.7+0.93=0.8HDI=30.8+0.7+0.9​=0.8
7. GNI limitations: Averages mask inequality (e.g., wealthy elites vs impoverished majority).
8. Infant mortality: UK = 4.56/1000; Mali = 109.08/1000. Reflects healthcare access disparities.
9. Birth rate limitations:
   • Cultural factors (e.g., Russia’s alcohol-related deaths).
   • War skews data (e.g., high death rates in conflict zones).
10. Energy consumption: HICs use more energy due to industrialization and higher living standards (e.g., Japan’s 859.7 trillion kWh vs Congo’s 534 million kWh).
11. **3,000GNI∗∗:LowerMIC(3,000GNI∗∗:LowerMIC(1,026–$4,035).
12. China’s classification: Despite large GDP, its GNI per capita remains in the Upper MIC range (4,036–4,036–12,475).
13. HICs: USA, Japan. LICs: Haiti, Ethiopia.
14. MIC issues: Wide variation (e.g., China vs Ecuador), making policy solutions less uniform.
15. LIC distribution: Mostly in Africa (e.g., Niger, Mali) and parts of Asia (Afghanistan).
16. Core: Prosperous regions with infrastructure (e.g., London). Periphery: Underdeveloped areas (e.g., Scottish Highlands).
17. Multiplier effects: Investment in core regions attracts more businesses, widening the gap (e.g., SE England’s tech hubs).
18. Urban poverty in HICs: Inequality persists due to high living costs and unemployment (e.g., London’s inner-city deprivation).
19. Core advantages:

• Fertile soils (e.g., California’s Central Valley).
• Transport links (e.g., Rotterdam’s port).

20. Climate impact: Periphery regions face droughts (Sahel) or floods (Bangladesh), hindering agriculture.
21. LIC population growth: High birth rates (lack of education, child labour) + falling death rates (vaccinations).
22. Consequences:

• Overcrowded schools (e.g., Mumbai’s slum schools).
• Unemployment (e.g., Nigeria’s youth job crisis).

23. China’s one-child policy: Reduced population by 300 million but caused gender imbalance (120 males/100 females).
24. Germany’s policies: Aging population requires tax incentives to boost birth rates.
25. Natural increase: Birth rate – death rate (e.g., Niger: 50.06 – 12.42 = 37.64/1000).
26. Aid types:

• Multilateral: Via UN/World Bank (e.g., HIPC debt relief).
• Bilateral: Direct aid with conditions (e.g., US aid to Afghanistan).

27. Fairtrade: Ensures fair prices for farmers (e.g., Ugandan coffee growers).
28. HIPC Initiative: Cancelled debt for 30 LICs (e.g., Mozambique) to fund social programs.
29. Appropriate aid: Matches local needs (e.g., hand pumps vs electric pumps in rural Kenya).
30. Trade bloc disadvantage: HICs impose tariffs, blocking LIC exports (e.g., EU agricultural subsidies).
31. China’s industrial growth:

• Internal: Cheap labour, government policies.
• External: Foreign investment from TNCs.

32. China’s disparities: Coastal regions (Shanghai) are wealthy; inland areas (Gansu) lag.
33. BRIC impact: Dominated global manufacturing (China) and services (India’s IT sector).
34. Shanty towns: Rural-urban migration + lack of affordable housing (e.g., Rio’s favelas).
35. TNC impact: Create jobs but exploit resources (e.g., Shell in Nigeria).
36. North-South divide: Still relevant but blurred by MIC growth (e.g., China, India).
37. HDI limitations: Ignores inequality, political freedom, and environmental factors.
38. GDP vs quality of life: Wealth may concentrate in elites (e.g., oil-rich Nigeria’s poverty).
39. Debt relief: Effective but requires governance reforms (e.g., Zambia’s post-relief education spending).
40. TNCs: Benefit via jobs but harm via environmental damage (e.g., mining in Congo).
41. Natural increase: 25−8=17/100025−8=17/1000
42. HICs in 2012: 70 countries (per Figure 9.4).
43. Population trend: Exponential growth since 1950, projected to stabilise by 2050.
44. Education spending: Indicates prioritisation of human capital (e.g., South Korea’s 15% GDP spend).
45. HDI rise: Improved literacy, healthcare, and incomes (e.g., Vietnam’s HDI growth).
46. Government role: Subsidies (e.g., China’s tech sector), infrastructure (e.g., India’s highways).
47. Globalisation impact: Narrowed gaps via NIC growth but widened via TNC exploitation.
48. Population management: China (restrictive) vs Germany (incentives).
49. Aid effectiveness: Successes (HIPC) vs failures (corruption in Zimbabwe).
50. Regional disparities: Case study – India’s IT hubs (Bengaluru) vs rural Bihar.