1. Population and economic Development patterns
Where do people live?
Population distribution
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Using the worksheet describe the World's population density.
Examination Advice: It is very typical in the IB Geography Examination for you to be asked to describe a map, graph or some form of data. These questions are usually worth 4 marks and to be able to score all marks you should.
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| Worksheet - World population density Map |
Explore World Population Data & Clock
Factors that determine population distribution
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Extended writing:
Are physical or human factors more important in determining population locations?
PhysicalLandforms:
Areas with high population densities tend to be broad, flat plains in lowland areas (such as the North China Plain, Bangladesh and the Netherlands), fertile river valleys (such as the Ganges River in India, the Chao Phraya in Thailand, the Mekong River in Vietnam, or the Nile River in Egypt), or volcanic areas with rich soils (such as the island of Java in Indonesia). Areas with low population densities tend to be steep, rugged mountains where soils are thin and air pressure is low (such as the Andes Mountains of South America) or high plateaux (such as Tibet). Climate: People are attracted to temperate areas with adequate, evenly distributed rainfall and a lengthy growing season for crops (such as western Europe) and to monsoonal climates (such as south-east Asia). On the other hand, people avoid areas with extreme climates, such as areas that are very dry (such as the Sahara Desert), very cold (such as northern Canada and Greenland), very wet with high humidity (such as the Amazon Basin or the lowlands of New Guinea), or which have irregular rainfall or long droughts (such as the Sahel region of Africa). Soils: From the early days of human farming, people have been attracted to areas with rich, fertile soils, which are of vital importance to ensuring a reliable supply of food. Areas with rich, humus-filled soils have high population densities (such as areas of western Europe). Other areas with high population densities include places with silt deposited by rivers in flood, with in valleys (such as Yangtze River in China, the Ganges River in India or the Nile River in Egypt), or the deltas of large rivers (such as the Ganges in Bangladesh or the Nile in Egypt). Areas with soils that make cultivation difficult usually have sparse populations. Soils may be unsuitable for cultivation because they are frozen (the permafrost soils of Siberia), they are leached and therefore low in minerals and nutrients (rainforest soils in the Amazon Basin of Brazil or the Congo River in central Africa), they are thin and poorly developed (mountainous areas of the Himalayas in Asia and the Rocky Mountains of North America), or they are heavily degraded or eroded as a result of over-grazing or deforestation (such as the Sahel region of Africa). Vegetation: Higher population densities are found in areas with extensive grasslands, such as East Africa and south-western Russia, than in areas where the vegetation makes cultivation and settlement difficult. Areas with sparse populations include dense rainforests (such as the Congo Basin in Africa and the Amazon Basin in Brazil), coniferous forests (such as eastern Russia), and areas with sparse vegetation due to aridity (such as the Arabian peninsula, central Asia and Mongolia). Water: A reliable water supply is essential for human survival, and people are attracted to areas where the availability of water is sufficient without being excessive. Areas with high population include places with reliable, evenly distributed rainfall (such as western Europe and north-eastern United States) and areas with reliable, seasonal monsoonal rainfall (such as India and south-east Asia). Areas with low or erratic rainfall have sparse population densities, some examples being the Sahara Desert and Sahel region of Africa, the interior of Australia and the deserts of southern and south-western Africa. Pests and diseases: People avoid areas where there are dangerous pests and diseases. Therefore, places such as the lowlands of Papua New Guinea and parts of central Africa have sparse population densities because of malaria. Natural resources: People are attracted to areas with major concentrations of minerals or energy resources, such as the Pittsburgh region of the USA, South Wales in the UK, and the Ruhr basin of Germany. On the other hand, places with few natural resources may have quite high population densities as they manage to obtain resources from elsewhere, some examples being the Netherlands, Japan and Taiwan. Furthermore, some places with abundant natural resources may have sparse population densities, either because the resources can be obtained with very few people (such as oil in Algeria, Iran or Saudi Arabia), or because the resources have not been developed (such as minerals in Eritrea or the Russian Far East). |
HumanAgriculture:
Areas which are productive for cropping or livestock raising tend to have high population densities, some examples being eastern China, northern India and eastern Europe. Conversely, areas where farming is difficult, perhaps because of climate, landforms or soils, have sparse populations, with some examples being the Sahara Desert, northern Canada and the Tibetan Plateau. Manufacturing: Areas where manufacturing industry has been established for many decades, or even centuries, usually have high population densities. Some examples of densely populated manufacturing regions include the Ruhr Basin of Germany, the Kanto Plain of Japan, north-east China (also known as Manchuria), and the north-east of the United States. Communications: Areas where it is physically easy and financially viable to construct communications infrastructure, such as ports, canals, roads, railways and airports, attract people and therefore tend to have high population densities. Examples of such areas include the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong, south-eastern Japan and the Netherlands. On the other hand, population density is sparse in areas where transport and communications are difficult, such as in mountainous areas (the Altiplano of Bolivia and the Tibetan Plateau of China), deserts (the Sahara Desert of Africa and central Australia), and densely forested areas (such as Siberia in Russia or northern Canada). Political factors: Government policies and decisions can cause areas to become either more densely population or less densely populated. Areas can become more densely settled when governments decide to develop new areas (such as mining settlements in the Russian Far East, transmigration settlements in West Papua, Indonesia, or pioneer lands in Israel), or create new cities such as Shenzhen in China, Brasilia in Brazil, Yamoussoukro in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Naypyidaw in Myanmar (Burma). Conversely, areas that do not receive adequate investment are often sparsely populated or become depopulated, examples being parts of the Russian Far East and declining manufacturing areas in Eastern Europe. Population densities can also become sparser over time due to depopulation arising from political conflict, and some examples of this include Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan. Information from:
Codrington, Stephen (2017-05-13T22:58:59). Our Changing Planet (Planet Geography Book 1) (Kindle Locations 763-765). Solid Star Press. Kindle Edition. |
Patterns in world economic development
What is development?
Key terms:
- Development geography: refers to the standard of living and quality of life of its human inhabitants. In this context, development is a process of change that affects people's lives. It may involve an improvement in the quality of life as perceived by the people undergoing change. However, development is not always a positive process.
- Quality of life: the standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual or group.
- Economic development: is a measure of a country's wealth and how it is generated (for example agriculture is considered less economically advanced then banking).
- Human development: measures the access the population has to wealth, jobs, education, nutrition, health, leisure and safety - as well as political and cultural freedom. Material elements, such as wealth and nutrition, are described as the standard of living. Health and leisure are often referred to as quality of life.
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Using the term 'DEVELOPMENT'
The word 'development' is not always straightforward to use and is often incorrectly referred to. Here are some common misconceptions:
The word 'development' is not always straightforward to use and is often incorrectly referred to. Here are some common misconceptions:
- Referring to a a country as 'being developed' - this is incorrect because it implies a finite goal that is reached by a country. This is not possible as all countries and regions are constantly improving and developing.
- It can also be considered insulting talking about a peoples culture, society or beliefs and calling them underdeveloped. This is problematic as they are not measurable or comparable and therefore not judged as superior or inferior.
- The Third World is out of date and should not be used. This idea was created to separate the the 1st World - Capitalist, 2nd World - Communist and 3rd World - Non aligned.
Correct usage of the word 'DEVELOPMENT'
To correctly use the term 'development' we usually refer to economic development or Human Development Index (HDI). The main reason for the use of economic development is because it is easily measurable and comparable between countries. We have many different ways of examining economic development such as: GDP, GNI, economic growth, unemployment, average wage etc.
To correctly use the term 'development' we usually refer to economic development or Human Development Index (HDI). The main reason for the use of economic development is because it is easily measurable and comparable between countries. We have many different ways of examining economic development such as: GDP, GNI, economic growth, unemployment, average wage etc.
Explore the different development indicators and discuss which are the most useful and why. Note down the 5 most useful Human and Physical indicators
| How we measure development |
What is the Difference between Quantitative and Qualitative Indicators?
Quantitative indicators are commonly believed to be measurements of cold, hard facts and rigid numbers; their validity, truth and objectivity taken as unshakeable facts. They are also seen as “objective and verifiable”. For example, the number of computers in a workplace or the number of telephones in a community; the quantity and frequency of computer and internet - related training workshops. Quantitative indicators deal with outputs, are easier to define and to look for.
On the other hand, qualitative indicators are seen as subjective, unreliable and difficult to verify. They are more difficult to ascertain because they probe the whys of situations and the contexts of people’s decisions, actions and perceptions. However, qualitative indicators are valuable to the evaluation process because projects and initiatives are involved with studying changes in people’s lives and in communities. They seek to measure the impact and evaluate the long-term effects and benefits of a project or an initiative. They focus on people’s own experiences and from a gender analytical/feminist perspective, qualitative indicators are particularly useful and important in understanding women’s experiences and perceptions in relation to empowerment and development. For example, the number of women using telecentres becomes more significant if the information they find and the links they make through the internet contribute to their sense of independence and empowerment.
Quantitative indicators are commonly believed to be measurements of cold, hard facts and rigid numbers; their validity, truth and objectivity taken as unshakeable facts. They are also seen as “objective and verifiable”. For example, the number of computers in a workplace or the number of telephones in a community; the quantity and frequency of computer and internet - related training workshops. Quantitative indicators deal with outputs, are easier to define and to look for.
On the other hand, qualitative indicators are seen as subjective, unreliable and difficult to verify. They are more difficult to ascertain because they probe the whys of situations and the contexts of people’s decisions, actions and perceptions. However, qualitative indicators are valuable to the evaluation process because projects and initiatives are involved with studying changes in people’s lives and in communities. They seek to measure the impact and evaluate the long-term effects and benefits of a project or an initiative. They focus on people’s own experiences and from a gender analytical/feminist perspective, qualitative indicators are particularly useful and important in understanding women’s experiences and perceptions in relation to empowerment and development. For example, the number of women using telecentres becomes more significant if the information they find and the links they make through the internet contribute to their sense of independence and empowerment.
What is a composite index?
Composite development index: measures more than one variable. It do not just consider GDP per capita but will also consider for example Education. These are considered to be more accurate that looking at a single factor because they can take into account a variety of socio-economic indicators and therefore no single factor can 'tip the scales'.
Human Development Index (HDI)
A tool developed by the United Nations to measure and rank countries' levels of social and economic development based on four criteria: Life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling and gross national income per capita. The HDI makes it possible to track changes in development levels over time and to compare development levels in different countries.
Human Development Index (HDI)
A tool developed by the United Nations to measure and rank countries' levels of social and economic development based on four criteria: Life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling and gross national income per capita. The HDI makes it possible to track changes in development levels over time and to compare development levels in different countries.
Factors affecting economic Development
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Natural Resources
The discovery of more natural resources like oil, or mineral deposits may boost economic growth as this shifts or increases the country’s Production Possibility Curve. Other resources include land, water, forests and natural gas. Realistically, it is difficult, if not impossible, to increase the number of natural resources in a country. Countries must take care to balance the supply and demand of scarce natural resources to avoid depleting them. Improved land management may improve the quality of land and contribute to economic growth. For example, Saudi Arabia’s economy has historically been dependent on its oil deposits. Physical Capital or InfrastructureIncreased investment in physical capital such as factories, machinery, and roads will lower the cost of economic activity. Better factories and machinery are more productive than physical labor. This higher productivity can increase output. For example, having a robust highway system can reduce inefficiencies in moving raw materials or goods across the country which can increase its GDP. Population or Labor A growing population means there is an increase in the availability of workers or employees, which means a higher workforce. One downside of having a large population is that it could lead to high unemployment. Human Capital An increase in investment in human capital can improve the quality of the labor force. This would result in an improvement of skills, abilities, and training. A skilled labor force has a significant effect on growth since skilled workers are more productive. For example, investing in STEM students or subsidizing coding academies would increase the availability of workers for higher-skilled jobs that pay more than investing in blue collar jobs. Technology Another influential factor is the improvement of technology. Technology could increase productivity with the same levels of labor, thus accelerating growth and development. This means factories can be more productive at lower costs. Technology is most likely to lead to sustained long-run growth. Law An institutional framework which regulates economic activity such as rules and laws. |
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Limiting factors to economic growth
1. Poor health and low levels of education
People who don’t have access to healthcare or education have lower levels of productivity. This means the labor force is not as productive as it could be. Therefore, the economy does not reach the productivity it could otherwise.
2. Lack of necessary infrastructure
Developing nations often suffer from inadequate infrastructures such as roads, schools, and hospitals. This lack of infrastructure makes transportation more expensive and slows the overall efficiency of the country.
3. Flight of Capital
If the country is not delivering the returns expected from investors, then investors will pull out their money. Money often flows out the country to seek higher rates of returns.
4. Political Instability
Similarly, political instability in the government scares investors and hinders investment. For example, Zimbabwe has been plagued with political uncertainty and laws favoring indigenous ownership. This has scared off many investors who prefer smaller but surer returns elsewhere.
5. Institutional Framework
Often local laws don’t adequately protect rights. Lack of an institutional framework can severely impact progress and investment.
6. The World Trade Organization
Many economists claim that the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other trading systems are biased against developing nations. Many developed nations adopt protectionist strategies which don’t help liberalize trade.
People who don’t have access to healthcare or education have lower levels of productivity. This means the labor force is not as productive as it could be. Therefore, the economy does not reach the productivity it could otherwise.
2. Lack of necessary infrastructure
Developing nations often suffer from inadequate infrastructures such as roads, schools, and hospitals. This lack of infrastructure makes transportation more expensive and slows the overall efficiency of the country.
3. Flight of Capital
If the country is not delivering the returns expected from investors, then investors will pull out their money. Money often flows out the country to seek higher rates of returns.
4. Political Instability
Similarly, political instability in the government scares investors and hinders investment. For example, Zimbabwe has been plagued with political uncertainty and laws favoring indigenous ownership. This has scared off many investors who prefer smaller but surer returns elsewhere.
5. Institutional Framework
Often local laws don’t adequately protect rights. Lack of an institutional framework can severely impact progress and investment.
6. The World Trade Organization
Many economists claim that the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other trading systems are biased against developing nations. Many developed nations adopt protectionist strategies which don’t help liberalize trade.
Extended Reading
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Mongolia - Internal Migration
- Provide basic facts for Mongolia
- Population size
- HDI
- GDP (per capita)
- Other development indicators
- Describe Mongolia's population distribution
- What factors determine where people live in Mongolia - be specific?
- Where and why are people migrating in Mongolia?
- What issues does this cause?
| Internal Migration - Mongolia |
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Brazil - Internal migration
- Provide basic facts for Brazil
- Population size
- HDI
- GDP (per capita)
- Other development indicators
- Describe Brazils's population distribution
- What factors determine where people live in Brazil - be specific?
- Where and why are people migrating in Brazil?
- What issues does this cause?
- What are people/Government doing to help?
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The Favela is the name given to the slums or shantytowns in and around the large cities of Brazil. There are many favelas existing around the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo. A Favela exists when homeless people or squatters occupy vacant plots of land, and build their homes out of things they can get scavenging. Today, millions of Brazilians live in these mazes of shanties. Approximately 6% of the entire Brazilian population lives in Favelas as per the Census of 2010.
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