DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

DEVELOPMENT

LEDC’s

• Less Economically Developed Countries

• Previously referred to as “THIRD WORLD”

• EG– Somalia

– Kenya

– Zimbabwe

– Sierra Leone

– Mozambique

MEDC’s

• More Economically Developed Countries

• Previously referred to as “FIRST WORLD”

• EG– USA

– UK

– Germany

– Australia

– Japan

THE BRANDT LINE

THE BRANDT LINE

• RICH NORTH – MEDC’s

– Most of the world’s manufactured goods

– 75% of the world’s consumption

– Earn 65 times more than the people in LEDC’s

– Create 90% of the world’s pollution and waste

• POOR SOUTH – LEDC’s

– 77% of the world’s total population

– Earn only 15% of the world’s total earnings

– 50% of the population does not have access to clean water

LEDC’s

• LEDC’s:

– Economically Poor

– Unemployment

– Wars – often “Civil War”

– Dictatorships

– Lack of infrastructure

– Lack of services

– Low literacy levels

– Primary Activities• Often Subsistence

LEDC’s

• Economic Development– Often exploited for their

natural resources.– Colonialism – European

countries often “colonised” African countries and exploited the people and resources

– The local population was often used as cheap labour or even Slave labour

– As a result, education levels were kept low in order to continue the exploitation.

– Low GDP and low GDP/Capita

LEDC’s

• Economic Development– Most people are unemployed

or employed as manual labour in industry

– Many people are involved in subsistence farming or fishing – this entails living off the land and providing only enough food for their own immediate needs.

– It is very difficult to save any money – they lead a “hand-to-mouth existence.

– Very often subsist on a few dollars per day.

LEDC’s

• POLITICAL INSTABILITY– LEDC’S are often

governed by “dictators.

– There is no sense of democracy – the dictator and his cronies become wealthy at the expense of the people.

– This often leads to civil war – where the people rise up against the corrupt government.

LEDC’s

• LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE:– Cities are often

haphazard, unplanned and contain many old, buildings in a state of disrepair, or slums.

– There is no real infrastructure – roads are in a state of disrepair with many potholes and un-tarred sections

LEDC’s

• LACK OF SERVICES:– Services include:

• Electricity

• Water supply

• Sanitation and refuse removal

• Public transport

• Hospitals and clinics

• Lack of basic services makes daily living very difficult, with time spent ensuring water, heat and light are supplied.

LEDC’s

• LOW LITERACY LEVELS:– Very often children do not

attend school, or leave at a very young age.

– There are very few high school graduates and even fewer with tertiary qualifications.

– This in turn leads to the cycle of poverty, with high unemployment rates

– Schools are often understaffed and have few resources.

LEDC’s

• PRIMARY ACTIVITIES:– Many people find

themselves involved in low level primary activities.

– These activities involve the removal of natural resources from the environment, and include subsistence farming, fishing, mining, forestry, hunting (bush meat trade).

– This subsistence lifestyle means that very few people are able to earn much money.

MEDC’s

• More Economically Developed Countries:

– Economically rich

– Modern infrastructure

– Services are of a high level

– Education levels are high

– People are employed in Secondary, Tertiary and Quaternary activities.

MEDC’s

• Economics:– High employments rates

– Manufacture high end products, eg: electronics, motor vehicles, technology.

– Many people employed in tertiary and quaternary sectors.

– High GDP and positive balance of trade.

– High GDP/Capita

MEDC’s

• Modern Infrastructure

– Infrastructure such as transport networks, communication networks and service infrastructure are modern and fully functional.

MEDC’s

• Service Provision:

– All citizens have access to the basic as well as advanced services, eg:• Electricity

• Running water

• Modern sanitation systems

• Advanced telecommunication

• Modern medical care

• Excellent schools

MEDC’s

• Education and Literacy:

– MEDC’s have high levels of literacy

– Most children are able to attend, and complete their schooling

– Many people graduate from tertiary institutions

– Schools are modern, well staffed and functional.

MEDC’s

• Employment:

– Employment figures are generally high

– People are employed in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors.

– Even at primary sector, modern technology is used.

EMERGING ECONOMIES

• In the last few years a number of countries previously regarded as LEDC’s have improved aspects of their economy to such an extent, that they are beginning to show characteristics of MEDC’s

• Countries such as South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand are beginning to develop more rapidly.

• A group of countries has emerged known as BRICS(A): (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)

• These countries have put strategies into place to rapidly grow their economies through development of industry, and job creation.

BRICS(a)

• The BRICS group of countries are growing very rapidly and at the current rate may eclipse the current richest countries in the world in terms of economic output, by 2050.

• The BRICS countries aim to create an alternative to the traditional Western economies by engaging in trade agreements with one another.

• This includes the strengthening of economic and political ties between these nations.