The case study of one emerging country (India): its location and context, how globalisation and government policy drive rapid economic change, the positive and negative impacts on people and environment, and its changing international role.

What this dot point is asking

This is Edexcel GCSE Geography B (1GB0) Paper 1, Section B (Topic 2, Development dynamics), the emerging country case study. Edexcel expects you to study one emerging country in depth (this page uses India, a common choice) and explain: its location, context and connectivity; how globalisation (communications, transport, TNCs, outsourcing) and government policy drive rapid economic change; the positive and negative impacts on different groups of people and on the environment; and how rapid development has changed the country's international role. You should know economic trends since 1990 and be able to use numerical data.

Location and context

India is a large country in South Asia, bordered by Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Indian Ocean. Its situation on major sea routes between Europe, the Middle East and East Asia, its huge population of over 1.4 billion, and its large English-speaking workforce give it strong connectivity and a major regional and global role. Within India there are sharp regional contrasts: a wealthier, industrial core (around Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore) and a poorer, rural periphery in states such as Bihar.

Globalisation, policy and economic change

India's economy changed rapidly after the 1991 economic reforms, which opened the country to foreign investment and trade.

The structure of the economy shows the shift clearly: the share of the workforce in primary (farming) activity has fallen, while the tertiary (services) and quaternary (IT, research) sectors have grown to dominate output, even though many people still work in agriculture.

Impacts on people and environment

Rapid growth has brought real benefits but also serious costs, and these are unevenly spread.

The impacts also differ by age and gender: younger, educated, urban workers have gained most from new service jobs, while older rural workers and many women have benefited less. Demographic change has followed development, with falling fertility and death rates as incomes, education and healthcare improve.

A changing international role

As its economy has grown, India's geopolitical influence has risen. It plays a larger role in international organisations and world trade, has strengthened relationships with the USA and the EU, and is an increasingly important regional power. There are conflicting views about this: supporters point to investment, jobs and influence, while critics worry about dependence on foreign TNCs, the uneven spread of benefits, and the environmental cost of rapid growth.

Try this

Q1. For a named emerging country, state two ways its economy has changed. [2 marks]

• Cue. For India, a shift from agriculture towards services and manufacturing, rising GDP and incomes, growth of the IT and outsourcing sector, or increased foreign direct investment.

Q2. For a named emerging country, explain one negative impact of rapid economic growth on people. [3 marks]

• Cue. In India, rapid rural-urban migration has caused slum growth and housing shortages in cities, or the gap between rich and poor and between core and periphery has widened.