geography Flashcards
Money that people who live in another country send back to families in their home countries
Remittance
Tourism that focuses on the environment and seeks to minimize environmental impact
Ecotourism
Act of concentrating on a limited number of goods or activities
Specialization
The state of people or countries being dependent on one another
Interdependence
What effects did the shift toward democratic government in the 1990(s) have on countries in the region?
Greater Political stability and economic growth.
What explains the political stability of Costa Rica?
A long tradition of elections and civilian government.
Why do you think Rigoberta Menchu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
Her work helped end violence in her country.
How does Belize’s government differ from those in other Central American countries?
Most central American countries have Presidential democracy but Belize has a Parliamentary democracy led by a Prime Minister with the King or Queen of Britain as head of state.
What type of economy is most common in Mexico and Central America?
Mixed economy
What types of investments are needed to boost economic growth in the region?
Investment, Entrepreneurship, and Human Capital.
What major change did Mexico’s leaders make in the late 1990s to improve the country’s economy?
They moved toward a market economy by loosening government regulations.
What might happen to the Mexican economy if remittances were stopped?
Spending stimulates economic growth so the economy would probably slow down since people would have less money to buy goods and services
What conditions have allowed Costa Rica’s economy to prosper compared to many other Central American nations?
A stable Political situation and high education levels have attacked foreign investment.
What economic barriers does NAFTA limit among its members?
Tariffs, quotas, and embargoes
What is the difference between the roles the governments of Mexico and Panama played in their country’s economics?
Compared to Mexico Panama’s government had a limited role in the country’s economy.
What are some criticisms of free-trade agreements?
Workers in poor countries lose out from free-trade and countries can become too dependent on the economic success of other countries.
Tropical cyclone that forms over the tropical Atlantic Ocean
Hurricane
A language that mixes two or more parent languages
Creole
Cuban religion that combines Catholic and West African beliefs
Santeria
What impact do natural disasters such as hurricanes have on Caribbean Islands?
They bring death and injuries and harm the economy.
How did colonialism and slavery shape the culture of the Caribbean?
Caribbean culture mix elements of the culture’s of past European rulers and enslaved Africans.
What were the four main types of governments in the Caribbean nations?
Presidential Democracy, Constitutional Monarchy, Communists dictatorship, and Parliamentary Democracies
Why has Cuba’s economy performed poorly?
The communist government’s tight control of the economy has discouraged investment and entrepreneurship.
What are the three most important examples of diversity and blending in Caribbean culture?
Languages, religions, art, and food.
Why is tourism so important to the region?
Many country’s economies rely on tourism.
Event marked by mud and earth sliding down hillsides onto lower areas
mudslide
Process by which water, ice, or wind remove rock and soil
erosion
A body of public works, such as roads, bridges, and hospitals, that a country needs to support a modern economy
Infrastructure
A group of businesses that control an industry
Cartel
A wide gap in access to the internet
Digital divide
What natural environmental challenges do all the nations of Middle America face?
Earthquakes, Volcanic eruptions, and hurricanes
How is deforestation connected to agriculture?
People sometimes clear forests to use the land for farming but this can cause soil erosion.
How have Mexico City officials tried to solve the pollution problem?
They sometimes ban a large number of vehicles from city streets.
What are five of the region’s main economic challenges?
Poverty, Lack of education, Income inequality, Poor Infrastructure, and Crime Corruption.
How does poverty harm a country’s economy?
Poverty limits educational opportunities and dieverts government resources.
How are the causes of mudslides and erosion different?
Earthquakes can cause mudslides. Erosion can result from natural processes or human actions.
What social problems do drug cartels create for countries in Middle America?
Drug cartels are responsible for thousands of murders and other illegal activities.
