Reasons for Differences in Development Flashcards
natural resources
some countries have an abundance of natural resources which can be traded internationally to generate wealth
eg. oil in Saudi Arabia
Climate
very hot countries may suffer from drought, which leads to crop failures and famine. This leads to malnutrition, which makes people susceptible to diseases. This creates an unreliable workforce and a reduced capacity to generate income
eg. Sahel region in Africa
Location
some countries have beautiful beaches and scenery, which attract tourists who spend money and create job opportunities, generating wealth
eg. Thailand
the location of some countries make them prone to natural disasters, which wipe out efforts towards development
eg. Hurricanes in the Caribbean
Trading Links
some countries have benefitted from their proximity to pre-existing trade routes, primarily on the coast.
eg. Singapore benefits from being on the shipping route between Asian to American and European markets
landlocked countries find it much more difficult to trade and suffer from more expensive import and export costs
eg. Chad
Conflict
conflicts are expensive and use up resources which may otherwise be put towards improving healthcare and education
eg. Afghanistan and Syria
Political corruption
political corruption can lead to money being used inappropriately for military purposes rather than going towards development
eg. Nigeria
Industry
the lack of strict pollution laws in parts of Southeast Asia have made some countries more attractive for manufacturing industries
History
some LEDCs have developed more rapidly due to their historic links with former colonial powers
eg. India’s connection to the British Empire
unequal distribution of wealth
the bulk of a country’s wealth may be concentrated in the hands of a minority of the population who are not interested in furthering development
eg. Oil wealth in Saudi Arabia
Debts
countries which have accumulated large debts have to repay loans, causing less money to go towards development
