The social, historical, environmental, economic and political causes of global inequality and their consequences, and how globalisation has benefited some countries more than others.

What this dot point is asking

This is Edexcel GCSE Geography B (1GB0) Paper 1, Section B (Topic 2, Development dynamics). Edexcel expects you to explain the causes and consequences of global inequality in development: social (education, health), historical (colonialism, neo-colonialism), environmental (climate, topography, hazards), and economic and political (systems of governance, international relations, trade). You should understand how these causes create uneven development and reinforce each other, and why globalisation has benefited some countries far more than others. This sits alongside the theories and strategies page, which explains how the gap can be reduced.

The causes of uneven development

No single factor explains why some countries are rich and others poor; several causes combine.

How the causes reinforce each other

The causes of inequality are linked in a cycle of poverty. Low incomes mean people cannot afford good food, housing or healthcare, so they are more often ill and less able to work, which keeps incomes low. Poor education limits skills and so limits the jobs and wages available. A country reliant on exporting cheap primary products earns little and cannot invest in industry or infrastructure, while debt repayments drain money from schools and clinics. Each weakness makes the others worse, which is why inequality persists across generations.

Consequences and the role of globalisation

The consequences of uneven development are large gaps in wealth (income and living standards), health (life expectancy, infant mortality, access to clean water) and international migration, as people move from poorer to richer countries for work and safety, sometimes draining poorer countries of skilled workers.

Globalisation has had an uneven effect. Some countries (for example China, India and other emerging economies) have used foreign investment, outsourcing and access to global markets to grow rapidly and narrow the gap. Others, especially the poorest, have benefited much less, because they lack the infrastructure, skills or stability to attract investment, or because they remain dependent on low-value exports. So globalisation can both reduce and widen inequality, depending on a country's circumstances.

Try this

Q1. State two causes of global inequality. [2 marks]

• Cue. Any two of social (poor education or healthcare), historical (colonialism or neo-colonialism), environmental (climate, topography or natural hazards), or economic and political (weak governance or unfair trade).

Q2. Explain one consequence of uneven development. [3 marks]

• Cue. Large differences in wealth or health between countries, or international migration as people move from poorer to richer countries for work and safety, sometimes draining poorer countries of skilled workers.