Download Chapter 9 Development – Key Issue #2

Chapter 9 Development – Key Issue #2
Nine Major Regions of Development
MORE DEVELOPED REGIONS
Anglo-America – HDI  0.94
 Language and religion patterns not diverse therefore, not an obstacle – some minor ethnic
discrimination
 Well endowed of mineral and natural resources
 Some loss of jobs must a success in global economy overall
 Most important food export
Western Europe – HDI  0.93
 Cultural unity, some language and religious diversity has been longtime conflict
 Prior competition among WE nationalities has caused wars, immigration reason for
population growth also conflict at times
 Core area of Germany, France, N. Italy, UK, Belgium, Switzerland core, outskirts of S
Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal lag in development
 EU has eliminated economic barriers – now WE largest and richest market – creates some
protection of jobs
Eastern Europe – HDI  0.80
 Only region that HDI has dropped significantly since the UN created it in the 1990s,
declined to level of Latin America
 Decline because of legacy left by communism
 Communist parties controlled EE that led to rapid development/growth of industry
1)Soviet 5 year plan emphasized heavy industry, 2) move production from E to Asian part
of Soviet Union 3)Manufacturing close to raw materials…SO…Soviet Union falls, EE has
scarce funds, wanted to dismantle industry that they had, had no consumer goods
production so they had to purchase
 READ (several times) THIS SECTION ON PAGE 303 and 304
Japan – HDI  0.94 (country not major region)
 3rd major center of development even though population much higher than available
resources
 Most intensively framed land high physiological density
 One of leading steel producers – must import coal and iron
 Asset – abundant supply of labor for low cost wages
 Encouraged to sell products cheaper than domestic competitors – got a foothold then
specialized in high tech/high quality product like electronics, cars, cameras
South Pacific – HDI  0.87 (not major region because of low population)
 High HDI even though less central to global economy because lower numbers of
inhabitants
 Net exporters of food to UK
 Economies tied to Japan and other Asian countries because of location
LESS DEVELOPED REGIONS (Latin America and East Asia – will eventually and soon more
to MDC category…predicted)
Latin America – HDI  0.80
 Only 2 languages, 1 major religion but still cultural diverse because of European, African
and native population mix
 More people live in urban areas than in other LDCs—supercities, primate cities
 Development hindered because of inequitable income distribution, most land owned by
wealthy families that rent out large percent to tenant farmers – growing coffee, tea, fruits
for export
East Asia – HDI  0.76
 East Asia – primarily China is driving entire world economy because cheap labor, new
more open policies (China has been very closed off for the majority of history)
 Partner with retail giant Wal-Mart pushing down prices for consumer goods because of
cheap labor
 East coast has much higher GDP, lots of regional economic inequalities
 Raid development is straining resources, increasing pollution worldwide
Middle East – HDI  0.68
 Most products imported though have one major economic asset – oil and have trade
surplus because of oil
 Most regions have plenty of money to develop/build industry but don’t because of
tension/conflicts – Islam, split in Islam, role of women unequal/loss of rights in some areas
– so money is spent on military and rebuilds
 UN has created AHDI to deal with area (Alternative HDI which focuses on low
development because lack of freedom, low education and lack of opportunities for women)
Southeast Asia – HDI  0.58
 One of most populous areas, areas with highest arithmetic density
 Region has suffered from ½ century of continuous warfare
 Some growth from textile industry and clothing produced by cheap labor
South Asia – HDI  0.58
 2nd highest population with 2nd lowest GDP
 Focused on agriculture – jute, peanuts, sugar, tea, rice and wheat – monsoon rains are a
must and destroy economy if bad harvests
 Recent trend of outsourcing MDC jobs to India for cheap labor – airlines, customer
service/help desks (technology the most) and credit card companies
Sub-Sahara Africa – HDI 0.51
 Least favorable area to development because so many living in poverty, internal conflicts,
corrupt govts, low education
 Economic problems are a result of the colonial era in 1800s to mid 1950s – Africa carved
up into superimposed boundaries – lots of conflict