Why is development uneven? (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Geography B): Revision Note

Specification links

The notes on this page cover part 1.3.3 of the WJEC Eduqas B specification – What are the causes and consequences of uneven development?

• How the key drivers of globalisation have caused uneven levels of development at a global scale and within nations.

• The consequences of this uneven development.

Causes of uneven development

• Uneven development means that some countries and regions become wealthier, more industrialised, and more technologically advanced than others

• It exists at both global scale (between HICs, NICs, and LICs) and national scale (urban vs rural, core vs periphery)

• Globalisation has created opportunities for some nations, but has widened the gap between those able to benefit and those left behind

1. Trade and foreign direct investment (FDI)

• Globalisation allows goods, services, and capital to move more freely around the world

• Countries with good transport links, skilled labour, and political stability attract more investment and trade

• HICs and NICs benefit most, while LICs often depend on exporting low-value primary goods

UK (HIC)

• The UK attracts FDI from global firms such as Toyota, Tata Motors (JLR) and Google UK due to its stable economy and skilled workforce

• Profits, however, often flow back to the company headquarters abroad, limiting benefits to other countries

India (NIC)

• India has gained huge benefits from global trade and investment, especially in technology and services

• TNCs such as Infosys, Amazon, and Tata Motors have created millions of jobs in cities like Bangalore and Mumbai

• This has led to regional inequality — urban areas prosper while rural states like Bihar remain poor

Nepal (LIC)

• Nepal exports mainly low-value goods such as clothing and tea, earning less from trade

• Its lack of infrastructure and mountain terrain limits FDI, keeping income levels low (World Bank, 2024 (opens in a new tab))

How does this cause unevenness?

• Countries with more trade and FDI connections (like India and the UK) grow faster than those with limited access (like Nepal)

• Within countries, FDI tends to concentrate in cities, widening the urban–rural gap

2. Technology and communication

• Advances in ICT, internet access, and mobile technology allow businesses to operate globally

• But not all countries have equal access to technology, creating a digital divide

UK

• Nearly universal internet access supports global communication and e-commerce

• High-speed data networks help firms connect instantly with clients worldwide

India

• Rapid growth in digital industries such as IT and call centres in cities like Hyderabad and Pune

• However, over 60% of rural households lack internet access, reinforcing internal inequality (UN Data, 2023 (opens in a new tab))

Nepal

• Poor network infrastructure limits digital connectivity in remote mountain regions

• This restricts access to education, healthcare, and business opportunities

How this causes unevenness:

• Countries and regions with fast, reliable technology grow more quickly

• Those without digital access struggle to compete or attract investors

3. Migration and labour flows

• Movement of workers and talent can boost development, but benefits are unevenly distributed

UK

• Skilled international migrants fill labour shortages in healthcare, engineering, and construction

• However, the ‘brain drain’ from developing countries like Nepal can deepen inequality globally

India

• Millions of Indians migrate abroad (especially to the Gulf States), sending home remittances worth over $100 billion annually — one of the world’s highest (World Bank, 2024 (opens in a new tab))

• This income helps families, but mainly benefits certain regions (e.g. Kerala), not the entire country

Nepal

• Around 25% of Nepal’s GDP comes from remittances from overseas workers

• While this provides income, it also creates dependency and limits industrial growth at home

How this causes unevenness:

• Migration can help individuals and regions linked to global labour markets, but others remain disconnected

4. Transnational corporations (TNCs)

• TNCs create jobs, invest in infrastructure, and spread technology — but unevenly

• They choose countries that offer cheap labour, tax incentives, or strong markets

UK

• Global headquarters attract investment, skilled jobs, and tax revenue

• Wealth is concentrated in London and the South East, widening regional inequality

India

• Attracts manufacturing and service industries (e.g. Tata, Infosys, Samsung)

• Urban areas benefit most, while rural regions remain underdeveloped

Nepal

• Few TNCs operate due to poor infrastructure and landlocked geography

• Limited investment keeps productivity and wages low

How this causes unevenness:

• TNCs increase development where they invest, but areas without investment fall further behind

5. Global institutions and politics

• Global organisations like the WTO, IMF, and World Bank influence trade and development

• Wealthier countries have more power in decision-making

• LICs often rely on aid or loans with strict repayment conditions, which can limit economic independence

UK

• A key member of global institutions, shaping trade and financial rules to support its own economy

India

• Gained more influence as its economy has grown but India is still affected by global trade regulations

Nepal

• Nepal has little political power globally, so it depends on aid and debt relief programmes

How this causes unevenness:

• Political influence and institutional power allow HICs to benefit more from globalisation

Consequences of unevenness:

• Uneven development means not everyone benefits equally from globalisation

• It leads to wealth gaps, social inequality, migration pressures, and environmental stress

• These differences appear between countries (global inequality) and within countries (regional inequality)

1. Economic consequences

• Global scale

  • Richer nations such as the UK dominate world trade and finance, controlling global markets and decision-making

  • NICs like India experience rapid growth in cities, but rural areas lag behind

  • LICs such as Nepal remain dependent on aid and remittances, with limited industrialisation

  • The income gap between HICs and LICs has widened: the richest 20 % of the world’s population earn more than 80 % of total income (World Bank, 2024 (opens in a new tab))

• Within nations

  • UK – North/South divide: London and the South East attract more FDI, higher wages, and better infrastructure than northern regions such as Teesside or Hull

  • India – Core/periphery divide: The western and southern states (Maharashtra, Karnataka) benefit from IT and industry, while the rural north-east remains poor

  • Nepal – Urban/rural gap: Kathmandu has growing services and tourism; mountain villages lack jobs and basic services

2. Social consequences

• Health and education

  • Countries and regions with lower income have poorer access to healthcare and schooling

  • India: literacy rates above 90 % in Kerala but below 70 % in Bihar (UNESCO, 2024 (opens in a new tab))

  • Nepal: many rural areas still lack hospitals; doctors are concentrated in cities

  • UK: regional differences in life expectancy – nearly 10 years higher in the South East than the North East (ONS, 2024 (opens in a new tab))

• Migration and urban growth

  • Uneven opportunities cause internal migration from rural to urban areas

  • India and Nepal: rapid city growth leads to overcrowded housing and informal settlements

  • UK: internal migration towards London and the South East increases housing costs and pressure on services

• Inequality and social tension

  • Uneven wealth can cause political discontent and social division

  • Rural communities often feel excluded from national development

  • Migration pressures can increase tension in both sending and receiving regions

3. Environmental consequences

• Rapid industrial growth in NICs can lead to deforestation, air and water pollution, and waste problems

• India: manufacturing and urban expansion increase CO₂ emissions – now the 3rd largest globally (IEA, 2024 (opens in a new tab))

• Nepal: over-reliance on firewood and hillside farming causes soil erosion and deforestation

• UK: high consumption levels lead to waste and carbon emissions, although stricter environmental laws have reduced industrial pollution

• Environmental damage often affects poorer communities most severely, widening inequality further

4. Political and developmental consequences

• Wealthier regions gain more influence over national policy and decision-making

• UK: government investment tends to favour high-growth regions, reinforcing inequality

• India: urban elites influence planning and infrastructure priorities, while rural voices are less represented

• Nepal: reliance on foreign aid and remittances limits political independence and slows sustainable reform