Development: Key Terms (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography): Revision Note

Development: Key Terms

Indicators of Development

Calorie intake – A measure of daily food energy, reflecting food security and economic status.
GNI (Gross National Income) – Total income earned by a country’s citizens, including money from abroad.
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) – The value of all goods and services produced within a country per year.
HDI (Human Development Index) – A combined indicator measuring income, life expectancy, and education.
Infant mortality rate – The number of deaths of babies under age 1 per 1,000 live births.
Life expectancy – The average number of years a person is expected to live.
Literacy rate – The percentage of adults who can read and write.
People per doctor – A ratio indicating access to medical care.
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) – Adjusts GNI to reflect living costs in different countries.

Use of Indicators to Compare Development

Composite indicator – A development measure made up of multiple variables (e.g., HDI).
Economic indicator – Measures based on income, trade, or employment.
Inequality – Uneven distribution of wealth or services within a country.
Social indicator – Measures of quality of life like education and healthcare.
Subjective well-being – A measure of happiness or life satisfaction, harder to quantify but important.

Levels of Development

Development gap – The difference in wealth and living standards between the world’s richest and poorest countries.
Food and water security – Access to essential resources that impact health and productivity.
Landlocked country – A country with no coastline, limiting trade and economic growth.
Social unrest – Civil conflict often resulting from poverty and inequality.
Technological access – Tools like internet, transport, and farming equipment that affect productivity.
Youthful population – A population with many young people, which can be a benefit or burden depending on job opportunities and services.

Global Pattern of Development

High-Income Country (HIC) – A nation with high income, infrastructure, and standard of living (e.g., Norway, Japan).
Low-Income Country (LIC) – A country with low income and poor access to services (e.g., Chad, Nepal).
Middle-Income Country (MIC) – A rapidly developing country with growing industry and rising income (e.g., Brazil, India).
Newly Industrialised Country (NIC) – A country in transition from agriculture to industry (e.g., South Korea).
Stages of development – From least developed to developed, tracked using indicators like GNI.

What is Sustainable Development?

Economic sustainability – Supporting jobs and income without overusing resources, ensuring long-term economic health.
Environmental sustainability – Protecting the planet’s resources and ecosystems while reducing pollution and emissions.
Social sustainability – Ensuring people have access to healthcare, education, housing, and equality.
Three pillars of sustainability – The balance of social, economic, and environmental sustainability in development.

Strategies to Achieve Sustainable Development

Bottom-up strategy – A locally led approach involving community participation and small-scale, appropriate solutions.
Education programmes – Teaching people skills and literacy, often focusing on girls and rural areas.
Fair Trade – A movement ensuring fair pay and conditions for producers in LICs.
Green jobs – Employment in eco-friendly sectors such as renewable energy and sustainable transport.
Microfinance – Small loans to help individuals start businesses, often empowering women.
Renewable energy – Power from sources like wind and solar that don’t run out or pollute.
Top-down strategy – Large-scale government or international organisation-led developments, often expensive and planned from above.
Vaccination programmes – Government health strategies aimed at improving life expectancy and public health.

Evaluation of Strategies to Reduce Uneven Development

Debt relief – Cancelling or reducing a country’s debt to help fund development (e.g., HIPC Initiative).
Development aid – Money, goods, or services given by one country or NGO to support another’s growth.
International trade – Countries earn income by selling goods abroad but may face unfair prices and trade barriers.
Multilateral aid – Aid given via international organisations like the World Bank or IMF.
Tied aid – Aid given with conditions attached, such as buying goods from the donor country.

Case Study: Botswana (MIC)

Anti-corruption policies – Botswana has strong legal systems and agencies to prevent misuse of funds.
Diamond exports – Main economic driver, managed via partnership with De Beers (Debswana).
Economic diversification – Investment in tourism, finance, and ICT to reduce reliance on mining.
Free education and healthcare – Public investment in primary education and HIV/AIDS care has raised living standards.
Infrastructure investment – Roads, electricity, and telecoms built to support development.
Political stability – A long-standing democracy with low corruption, enabling effective development.