6. Origin of disparities

Question 1

Gini coefficient

Answer 1

a statistical technique used to show the extent of income inequality in a country. With values between 0 and 1, a low value indicates a more equal income distribution while a high value means more unequal income distribution.

Question 2

Cumulative causation

Answer 2

the process whereby a significant increase in economic growth can lead to even more growth as more money circulates in the economy.

Question 3

Economic core region

Answer 3

the most highly developed region in a country with advanced systems of infrastructure and high levels of investment resulting in high average income.

Question 4

Periphery

Answer 4

the parts of a country outside the economic core region. The level of economic development in the periphery is significantly below that of the core.

Question 5

Slum

Answer 5

a heavily populated urban area characterised by substandard housing and squalor.

Question 6

Urbanisation of poverty

Answer 6

the gradual shift of global poverty from rural to urban areas with increasing urbanisation.

Question 7

Indigenous population

Answer 7

people descending from the original ethnic group(s) to populate a country. Other ethnic groups migrating to that country at a later period of time may come to dominate the indigenous population in various ways.

Question 8

Privatisation

Answer 8

the sale of state-owned assets to the private sector.