Social & Economic Measures of Development - AP Human Geography
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The Human Development Index (HDI) was created by the United Nations (UN) to measure a country's level of development. Development is the process of improving the material conditions of people through diffusion of knowledge and technology. As the development process is continuous and constantly fluctuating, the HDI rating of any given country changes year to year. Categorization of development is simplified by terming countries as either developed or developing, based on what their HDI ranking is. A developed country has progressed further along the development continuum than a developing country and the UN considers these countries to have a very high development. A developing country has generally made some progress towards development but less than that of the developed countries. The UN further divides the developing countries into levels of "high", "medium", and "low" development.
The UN HDI considers development to be a function of three factors:
1.) A decent standard of living
2.) Access to knowledge
3.) A long and healthy life
Each country is given a score for each of the three factors, which are then combined into an overall HDI. The highest HDI possible is 1.0 (or 100%).
It is not surprising that the three most developed regions in the world according to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) are Australia, Europe, and North America. There are many regions of the world which have an overall low HDI ranking which is caused by only one or two of the factors considered in classifying rank. Which region of the world has the lowest HDI, mainly influenced by the low rank of the "long and healthy life" factor?
The Human Development Index (HDI) was created by the United Nations (UN) to measure a country's level of development. Development is the process of improving the material conditions of people through diffusion of knowledge and technology. As the development process is continuous and constantly fluctuating, the HDI rating of any given country changes year to year. Categorization of development is simplified by terming countries as either developed or developing, based on what their HDI ranking is. A developed country has progressed further along the development continuum than a developing country and the UN considers these countries to have a very high development. A developing country has generally made some progress towards development but less than that of the developed countries. The UN further divides the developing countries into levels of "high", "medium", and "low" development.
The UN HDI considers development to be a function of three factors:
1.) A decent standard of living
2.) Access to knowledge
3.) A long and healthy life
Each country is given a score for each of the three factors, which are then combined into an overall HDI. The highest HDI possible is 1.0 (or 100%).
It is not surprising that the three most developed regions in the world according to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) are Australia, Europe, and North America. There are many regions of the world which have an overall low HDI ranking which is caused by only one or two of the factors considered in classifying rank. Which region of the world has the lowest HDI, mainly influenced by the low rank of the "long and healthy life" factor?
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Sub-Saharan Africa has an HDI of only 0.4, the lowest of any region in the world. All other developing regions rank at a 0.5 or higher. Russia is the highest ranking of all the regions the UN deems as "developing" with an HDI of 0.72.
Why is Sub-Saharan Africa ranked so low? The answer is that their life expectancy is the shortest of anywhere in the world. There are many factors that cause the life-expectancy and overall health to be so low in Sub-Saharan Africa. The major cause for this is the AIDS epidemic which is a major crisis for this region of the world. Although the UN and other Government and Non-Government organizations have been helping with the AIDS crisis, it is still an incurable disease which has spread rapidly throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and continues to be the number one cause of death in this region. With many children being born with AIDS passed down from their parents, it is a challenge to get this crisis under control.
Lack of clean drinking water, lack of medical services, and minimal access to knowledge also influence the low life-expectancy and health in this region. With many people being contaminated with various diseases and viruses from their drinking water, combined with a shortage of medicines and medical facilities to treat patients in, unfortunately many people in this region die at a young age from otherwise curable illnesses. The minimal access to knowledge and low school attendance in areas that do provide education only worsens the problem as people are not educated on how to avoid getting sick and what to do to treat an illness. Providing access to education could prevent many deaths and help begin to contain the spread of the AIDS virus.
Sub-Saharan Africa has an HDI of only 0.4, the lowest of any region in the world. All other developing regions rank at a 0.5 or higher. Russia is the highest ranking of all the regions the UN deems as "developing" with an HDI of 0.72.
Why is Sub-Saharan Africa ranked so low? The answer is that their life expectancy is the shortest of anywhere in the world. There are many factors that cause the life-expectancy and overall health to be so low in Sub-Saharan Africa. The major cause for this is the AIDS epidemic which is a major crisis for this region of the world. Although the UN and other Government and Non-Government organizations have been helping with the AIDS crisis, it is still an incurable disease which has spread rapidly throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and continues to be the number one cause of death in this region. With many children being born with AIDS passed down from their parents, it is a challenge to get this crisis under control.
Lack of clean drinking water, lack of medical services, and minimal access to knowledge also influence the low life-expectancy and health in this region. With many people being contaminated with various diseases and viruses from their drinking water, combined with a shortage of medicines and medical facilities to treat patients in, unfortunately many people in this region die at a young age from otherwise curable illnesses. The minimal access to knowledge and low school attendance in areas that do provide education only worsens the problem as people are not educated on how to avoid getting sick and what to do to treat an illness. Providing access to education could prevent many deaths and help begin to contain the spread of the AIDS virus.
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Which of the following would not directly result in a higher human development index (HDI)?
Which of the following would not directly result in a higher human development index (HDI)?
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The human development index (HDI) is calculated based off three indices: life expectancy index (LEI), education index (EI), and income index (II). The only answer choice that is not directly involved in any of the three indices is "higher cost of living." The HDI helps to classify countries into four tiers of human development.
The human development index (HDI) is calculated based off three indices: life expectancy index (LEI), education index (EI), and income index (II). The only answer choice that is not directly involved in any of the three indices is "higher cost of living." The HDI helps to classify countries into four tiers of human development.
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How is malaria spread?
How is malaria spread?
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Malaria is spread by mosquitos that contain the malaria virus in their saliva. In 2013, there were an estimated 198 million cases of malaria, resulting in over 500,000 deaths (mostly children in the African region).
Malaria is spread by mosquitos that contain the malaria virus in their saliva. In 2013, there were an estimated 198 million cases of malaria, resulting in over 500,000 deaths (mostly children in the African region).
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In the U.S., how much solid waste does each person (on average) produce daily?
In the U.S., how much solid waste does each person (on average) produce daily?
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The average person in the U.S. will produce about 4 pounds of solid waste per day.
The average person in the U.S. will produce about 4 pounds of solid waste per day.
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Child mortality rates improved during the nineteenth century for all of the following factors EXCEPT .
Child mortality rates improved during the nineteenth century for all of the following factors EXCEPT .
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From the nineteenth century onwards, the industrialized world saw a remarkable improvement in mortality rates, especially among children but in all age demographics. The direct causes for this were varied, but included improved medical knowledge, better access to medical care, and improved sanitation standards. Some of the more indirect causes included more food sources due to better agricultural technology, wider social mobility, and more trust in modern science, which led there to be fewer famines and lower infection rates.
From the nineteenth century onwards, the industrialized world saw a remarkable improvement in mortality rates, especially among children but in all age demographics. The direct causes for this were varied, but included improved medical knowledge, better access to medical care, and improved sanitation standards. Some of the more indirect causes included more food sources due to better agricultural technology, wider social mobility, and more trust in modern science, which led there to be fewer famines and lower infection rates.
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Which of the following would be characteristic of Stage 1 of the demographic transition model?
Which of the following would be characteristic of Stage 1 of the demographic transition model?
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Stage 1 of the demographic transition is typically pre-historic and occurs when the infrastructure and resources to guard against famine, disease, drought, and other disasters are generally not available (no flu vaccines, no food aid programs, etc.). This results in high and fluctuating birth and death rates, because environmental conditions and epidemics have a direct impact on birth and mortality rates.
Stage 1 of the demographic transition is typically pre-historic and occurs when the infrastructure and resources to guard against famine, disease, drought, and other disasters are generally not available (no flu vaccines, no food aid programs, etc.). This results in high and fluctuating birth and death rates, because environmental conditions and epidemics have a direct impact on birth and mortality rates.
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Which of the following is characteristic of Stage 2 in demographic transition?
Which of the following is characteristic of Stage 2 in demographic transition?
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Stage 2 of demographic transition includes the formation of permanent towns and societies all the way up to the industrialization and formation of large cities. During this time, food has become more abundant due to agriculture, and humans are less susceptible to famine. In addition, medicine and healthcare become available, and hygiene improves, resulting in a decline in the mortality rate; however, birth rates are still very high during Stage 2, while the mortality rate will begin to decline. The population will also begin to increase sharply at this point.
Stage 2 of demographic transition includes the formation of permanent towns and societies all the way up to the industrialization and formation of large cities. During this time, food has become more abundant due to agriculture, and humans are less susceptible to famine. In addition, medicine and healthcare become available, and hygiene improves, resulting in a decline in the mortality rate; however, birth rates are still very high during Stage 2, while the mortality rate will begin to decline. The population will also begin to increase sharply at this point.
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Which of the following best describes the birth and mortality rates in Stage 3 of a demographic transition?
Which of the following best describes the birth and mortality rates in Stage 3 of a demographic transition?
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Stage 3 of the demographic transition is the continuation of Stage 2, where the birth rate has begun to decline sharply while the mortality rate continues to decline but has begun leveling off. The continued decline in the death rate can be attributed to the increased presence of healthcare and medical facilities in matured industrial societies. The sharp decline in birth rates is attributed to the increase in accessible education for women, which tends to happen in industrialized societies.
Stage 3 of the demographic transition is the continuation of Stage 2, where the birth rate has begun to decline sharply while the mortality rate continues to decline but has begun leveling off. The continued decline in the death rate can be attributed to the increased presence of healthcare and medical facilities in matured industrial societies. The sharp decline in birth rates is attributed to the increase in accessible education for women, which tends to happen in industrialized societies.
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Which of the following is not a consequence of low fertility rates?
Which of the following is not a consequence of low fertility rates?
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Low fertility rates lead to population decline, reductions in the labor force, a smaller tax base, and slowed economic growth. These results actually hurt social programs benefitting the elderly (e.g. social security), which are paid for by taxes that are incurred when people work and spend. In general, a smaller tax base, which is a consequence of low fertility rates, will not facilitate increased funding for social services of any kind.
Low fertility rates lead to population decline, reductions in the labor force, a smaller tax base, and slowed economic growth. These results actually hurt social programs benefitting the elderly (e.g. social security), which are paid for by taxes that are incurred when people work and spend. In general, a smaller tax base, which is a consequence of low fertility rates, will not facilitate increased funding for social services of any kind.
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Which of these countries scores high on Gross Domestic Product per capita but low on gender equality?
Which of these countries scores high on Gross Domestic Product per capita but low on gender equality?
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Qatar has the third-highest Gross Domestic Product per capita of any country in the world- behind only Luxembourg and Switzerland. But, it scores relatively low on the gender equity scale. This is due to the differences between Qatar’s current economic climate and its longstanding cultural traditions. Based on previous evidence we can reasonably infer that Qatar’s gender equality is likely to rise to a point more in keeping with it’s Gross Domestic Product per capita, but we cannot know this for certain.
Qatar has the third-highest Gross Domestic Product per capita of any country in the world- behind only Luxembourg and Switzerland. But, it scores relatively low on the gender equity scale. This is due to the differences between Qatar’s current economic climate and its longstanding cultural traditions. Based on previous evidence we can reasonably infer that Qatar’s gender equality is likely to rise to a point more in keeping with it’s Gross Domestic Product per capita, but we cannot know this for certain.
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Which of the following would not be a factor in calculating a nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?
Which of the following would not be a factor in calculating a nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?
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The gross domestic product is one of the chief ways a nation's economy is judged. As its name implies, the GDP is a total accounting of a nation's output, including all expenditures, revenues, and profits. Any average, like the average wage, plays no part in GDP, because GDP measures a complete output by a nation.
The gross domestic product is one of the chief ways a nation's economy is judged. As its name implies, the GDP is a total accounting of a nation's output, including all expenditures, revenues, and profits. Any average, like the average wage, plays no part in GDP, because GDP measures a complete output by a nation.
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Most geographers consider Purchasing Power Parity to be a necessary addendum to any analysis of Gross National Product because it .
Most geographers consider Purchasing Power Parity to be a necessary addendum to any analysis of Gross National Product because it .
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The primary problem with the Gross National Product is that it presents the value of all economies based on the value of the US dollar. It ignores the fact that in different countries varying amounts of goods can be purchased with the same amount of money. For example, a house in New Jersey might cost you several hundred thousand dollars, in Lesotho it might cost you less than a thousand dollars. This basically means that an individual needs to earn less money to buy the same amount of goods. This distinction is reflected in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).
The primary problem with the Gross National Product is that it presents the value of all economies based on the value of the US dollar. It ignores the fact that in different countries varying amounts of goods can be purchased with the same amount of money. For example, a house in New Jersey might cost you several hundred thousand dollars, in Lesotho it might cost you less than a thousand dollars. This basically means that an individual needs to earn less money to buy the same amount of goods. This distinction is reflected in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).
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How does the Gross Domestic Product differ from the Gross National Product?
How does the Gross Domestic Product differ from the Gross National Product?
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The Gross Domestic Product is very similar to Gross National Product except for one important distinction, the Gross National product takes into account foreign investments, whereas the Gross Domestic Product does not. For this reason most economic geographers consider the Gross National Product to be a slightly more useful statistic than the Gross Domestic Product.
The Gross Domestic Product is very similar to Gross National Product except for one important distinction, the Gross National product takes into account foreign investments, whereas the Gross Domestic Product does not. For this reason most economic geographers consider the Gross National Product to be a slightly more useful statistic than the Gross Domestic Product.
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Which of these was created to account for flaws in the Gross National Product?
Which of these was created to account for flaws in the Gross National Product?
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The statistic of Purchasing Power Parity was created by geographers and economists to account for flaws in the Gross National Product - namely that the Gross National Product does not reflect how far the same amount of money goes in different countries around the world.
The statistic of Purchasing Power Parity was created by geographers and economists to account for flaws in the Gross National Product - namely that the Gross National Product does not reflect how far the same amount of money goes in different countries around the world.
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Which of these countries eschews Gross National Product in favor of Gross National Happiness?
Which of these countries eschews Gross National Product in favor of Gross National Happiness?
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Bhutan is a small country in the Himalayan region of Asia that has eschewed the Gross National Product metric in favor of Gross National Happiness. The government contends that countries should be measured by how content and comfortable their citizens are rather than the aggregate sum of their riches, or industrial production.
Bhutan is a small country in the Himalayan region of Asia that has eschewed the Gross National Product metric in favor of Gross National Happiness. The government contends that countries should be measured by how content and comfortable their citizens are rather than the aggregate sum of their riches, or industrial production.
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Which of these is least strongly correlated with Gross National Product?
Which of these is least strongly correlated with Gross National Product?
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In truth all of these are extremely strongly correlated with Gross National Product. But, income (obviously), life expectancy, and literacy rates are all more strongly correlated than is gender equity. This is because some countries, such as Italy in Europe, much of the Middle East, and Japan score far higher on measures like Gross National Product than they do on gender equity.
In truth all of these are extremely strongly correlated with Gross National Product. But, income (obviously), life expectancy, and literacy rates are all more strongly correlated than is gender equity. This is because some countries, such as Italy in Europe, much of the Middle East, and Japan score far higher on measures like Gross National Product than they do on gender equity.
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The monetary value in US dollars of all the goods, services, and investments produced by a country in a year is called .
The monetary value in US dollars of all the goods, services, and investments produced by a country in a year is called .
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The Gross National Product is one of the most widely used and quoted statistics in economic geography, particularly in popular parlance. It refers to the total monetary value, in US dollars, of all the goods, services, and investments produced by a country in a year.
The Gross National Product is one of the most widely used and quoted statistics in economic geography, particularly in popular parlance. It refers to the total monetary value, in US dollars, of all the goods, services, and investments produced by a country in a year.
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Which of these measurements of economic development takes into account the monetary value of all the goods, services, and investments produced by a country in a year and then subtracts the the value of the loss of natural resources caused by that production?
Which of these measurements of economic development takes into account the monetary value of all the goods, services, and investments produced by a country in a year and then subtracts the the value of the loss of natural resources caused by that production?
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The Net Natural Product differs quite significantly from the other statistics used to measure relative economic development in a country because it takes into account the loss of natural resource caused by the productivity of the country. As such it is a natural favorite of environmental economic geographers.
The Net Natural Product differs quite significantly from the other statistics used to measure relative economic development in a country because it takes into account the loss of natural resource caused by the productivity of the country. As such it is a natural favorite of environmental economic geographers.
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What is the value of the total output of goods and services produced in a country in a given time period (often one year)?
What is the value of the total output of goods and services produced in a country in a given time period (often one year)?
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The easiest way to figure this out is with vocabulary: primarily income vs. product. We know from the prefix in- that _in_come deals with what is coming _in_to the country. That leaves us with either Gross Domestic Product or Gross National Product. However, Gross National Product deals with the market value of the goods that have been produced by a country, not the actual amount of goods. Think of the two as quantitative vs. qualitative; GDP deals with how many goods were produced, while GNP deals with how much those same goods are worth.
The easiest way to figure this out is with vocabulary: primarily income vs. product. We know from the prefix in- that _in_come deals with what is coming _in_to the country. That leaves us with either Gross Domestic Product or Gross National Product. However, Gross National Product deals with the market value of the goods that have been produced by a country, not the actual amount of goods. Think of the two as quantitative vs. qualitative; GDP deals with how many goods were produced, while GNP deals with how much those same goods are worth.
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Which of the following three countries best represent Stage 4 of demographic transition?
Which of the following three countries best represent Stage 4 of demographic transition?
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Stage 4 of demographic transition is the result of industrial and economic development and is characterized by a low and stabilized birth rate and a low and constant mortality rate. Countries that have undergone their industrial revolution and have adequate public health and education infrastructure such as Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom are in Stage 4 of demographic transition.
Stage 4 of demographic transition is the result of industrial and economic development and is characterized by a low and stabilized birth rate and a low and constant mortality rate. Countries that have undergone their industrial revolution and have adequate public health and education infrastructure such as Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom are in Stage 4 of demographic transition.
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