Reasons for uneven development (Development and quality of life)

Question 1

SHEEP reasons (5 categories)

Answer 1

1. Social-cultural
2. Historical
3. Environmental
4. Economic
5. Political

Question 2

Social-cultural reasons

Answer 2

1. Education - Adult Literacy Rate (ALR)

2. Population Growth Rate

Question 3

Historical Reasons

Answer 3

Colonialism

Question 4

Environmental Reasons

Answer 4

1. Pests

2. Natural disasters

Question 5

Economic Reasons

Answer 5

Cumulative causation

Question 6

Political Reasons

Answer 6

1. Political conflict

2. Gov competency/ Leadership

Question 7

Education (S)

Answer 7

• DC higher ALR due to btr quality education infrastructure
• more ppl able to read and write (skills and knowledge)
• more work in sec, tertiary, quaternary sectors
• higher pay, higher standard of living, btr quality of life
• competent workforce attracts foreign investors e.g Dyson
• e.g. Sg: compulsory 10 yrs education, Myskillsfuture ($500 credit for training, update skills
• LDC education too expensive, quality of education may be low
• ppl with no education reluctant to change/learn new skills, many unskilled workers, low productivity and income

Question 8

Population growth rate (LDC) (S)

Answer 8

• overpopulation (usually LDC): when birth rate is much higher than death rate
• might face problems ie. insufficient food, housing (Hongkong)
• opportunity cost occurs when gov increase expenditure on providing basic needs for young population
• cannot focus on developing country ie. infrastructure

Question 9

Population growth rate (DC) (S)

Answer 9

• fewer children
• higher cost and standard of living
• enuf food, no shortage of healthcare/employment opportunities, housing
• govt can focus on building economy
• low birth rate might result in insufficient manpower

Question 10

Colonialism (H) (definition and reason)

Answer 10

• domination of a more powerful country over another country
• most LDC once under colonial rule e.g. Angola under Portuguese
• obtain raw materials that couldn’t be found/grown in home country (manufacture and make sell, profit) , take control of strategic trade routes

Question 11

How colonialism results in uneven development (H)

Answer 11

• development slow in many colonies
• colonial power build infrastructure to facilitate trade/manufacturing e.g. roads (movement of cash crops)
• neglect other sectors e.g. education
• gap in development between colonies and colonial power countries widen
• corruption, exploitation as former colonies continue to export “low-value” raw materials e.g. oil, diamonds, gain little profit (LDC)
• DC continue to develop tech, industrialise

Question 12

Colonialism anomalies

Answer 12

• colonies that were colonised for strategic locations developed faster than those colonised for raw materials
• e.g. SG developed infrastructure and port by the time British left

Question 13

Pests, natural disasters, human diseases (En)

Answer 13

• agricultural fields impt source of food and income can be ruined by pests e.g. locusts
• gov need to spend money to import food for citizens due to lost of food crops
• spend resources to rebuild/repair damages (infrastructure)
• loss of income, lesser taxes, economy affected, development cannot continue

Question 14

Cumulative causation (Ec)

Answer 14

• process of how movement of ppl and resources frm periphery makes core richer
• core: more wealth, developed, many employment opportunities, attracts workers from periphery
• population in core increases, dd for gds and services increase, I increase, businesses expand, new ones created
• economy improves, more jobs created, profits and wages increase
• core area improves infrastructure and services, cater to needs, development increases (cumulative causation)

Question 15

How cumulative causation causes uneven development (Ec) [Backwash effect]

Answer 15

• occurs when only core is developing, periphery not developing
• e.g. when SG developed quickly, attracted workers (cheaper labour) frm periphery countries ie. India.
• Periphery countries drained of labour, development hindered, disadvantaged

Question 16

Spread effect (Ec)

Answer 16

• occurs when wealth and knowledge spread from core to periphery
• benefits gained from core spread to periphery
• occurs when gov encourage investments, bring economic development to periphery
• workers return to periphery with skills and knowledge, help in development
• e.g. development of Japan’s automobile industry in Thailand
• cheap labour, land, greater profits (Japan)
• increase employment opportunities, more income, taxes (Thailand)

Question 17

Political conflict (P)

Answer 17

• state of disagreement, result in violence, bloodshed
• e.g. Cambodia 1970s civil war, businesses disrupted, many forced out of cities and towns
• political instability deters investors, tourists (travel advisories), fear of businesses going bankrupt (unpredictability)
• civil war prevents ppl from going to work, buildings destroyed, gov need to spend money to rebuild infrastructure (opp cost)

Question 18

Stable gov (P)

Answer 18

• truthful, non-corrupt, efficient, pragmatic gov
• ensure peace by implementing right policies
• attract investors (non-corrupt gov inspires confidence amongst local and foreign investors)
• pragmatic: implement laws and policies for the greater good, development
• e.g. SG has many foreign investors like Dyson and Samsung