Download Literacy Rate and the Standard of Living in Europe

Literacy Rate and the Standard
of Living in Europe
Literacy Rate & Standard of Living
• Literacy Rate is the amount of people in a country
who can read and write
• Standard of Living = good education, health
care, and access to technology
GDP
 GDP: Gross Domestic Product
 GDP is the amount of goods and services produced
by a country
 GDP per capita (person) is the average amount of
goods and services produced by each person in a
country
Literacy: the ability to read and write
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
France
Russia
LITERACY
RATE
99%
99%
100%
GDP PER
CAPITA
$37,700
$40,400
$24,800
Germany
Italy
98%
99%
$44,700
$34,500
United States
99%
$54,800
USUALLY….
LITERACY =
LITERACY =
STANDARD OF LIVING
LOWER STANDARD OF LIVING
Literacy in Europe
Most Literate
Least Literate
 Estonia 99.8%
 Turkey 88.7%
 Latvia 99.8%
 Italy 98.9%
High Literacy Rate
 High literacy rates are usually found in industrialized
countries.
 Industrialized countries depend on manufacturing for their
wealth.
 They use the wealth to provide education, health care, and access
to technology for their citizens.
 They usually have a high standard of living.
 Examples: U.S. & most of Europe
Low Literacy Rate
 Low literacy rates are usually found in 3rd world
countries.
 3rd world countries depend on farming for their wealth.
 3rd world countries are poor, and their people are
uneducated.
 Without reading/writing skills, people can’t get good jobs
or pay for school.
Third World Countries
 Third world or unindustrialized countries are
usually based on basic farming and have fewer
jobs in industry, technology and communication.
 They usually have lower literacy rates because
the country does not have education for everyone
 Only people who have enough money to pay for
good schools can get an education.
Third World Countries Cont.
 Without education people can not get good jobs
 Countries whose economies are more based on farming
(agriculture) and do not have many jobs in industry,
communication, and technology are usually poorer and less
educated.
• In many of these countries only wealthy children are able to
go to quality schools or even go to school at all. In some
cultures only wealthy boys are able to attend school.
• These countries have a lower literacy rate because many
of their people can not read or write and have little hope of
getting a good paying job.
Vicious Cycle in 3rd World Countries
Most can’t
read or
write
No good job
Country
can’t afford
to provide
education &
health care
Country
does not
produce
wealth
Russia – Doesn’t Fit
 High literacy rate but lower standard of living than rest of
Europe
 Why? The government requires children to be educated. The
government used to control the economy, so the GDP was
low and not very productive.
 Changes: government is increasing manufacturing &
communications jobs
 People’s salaries & standard of living are increasing
Question 1
• People in third world countries have
A.
The best jobs at the best pay
B.
Little access to good education
C.
A higher literacy rate
D.
A higher standard of living
Question 2
• Why does Russia have such a high literacy rate but
such a low GDP?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Russians don’t want to make more money
Education isn’t provided for children
There are too many jobs and not enough workers
The government has always required children to be
educated, but the economy is not as productive
Question 3
• A literate person is more likely to have all except
A.
Health care
B.
Enough income to pay for housing and food
C.
Technology (cell phones/ computers)
D.
Uneducated children
Answer 1
 People in 3rd world countries have
 Little education
Answer 2
 Why does Russia have such a high literacy rate but
such a low GDP?
 The government has always required children to be
educated, but the economy is not as productive
Answer 3
 A literate person in a developed country is most
likely to have all EXCEPT which item?
 Uneducated children