Why is development uneven across the world, and how can the development gap be reduced?
Key Idea 6.2: the causes and consequences of uneven development at the global scale and within one low-income country (LIC) and one newly industrialised country (NIC), the physical, economic, historical and political causes, the consequences of uneven development, and the strategies used to reduce the development gap.
A focused answer on Key Idea 6.2 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 2: the physical, economic, historical and political causes of uneven development, its consequences within a LIC and a NIC, and the strategies used to reduce the development gap.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point covers Key Idea 6.2 of WJEC Unit 2: the causes and consequences of uneven development at the global scale and within one LIC and one NIC. You need the physical, economic, historical and political causes, the consequences of uneven development, and the strategies used to reduce the development gap.
The causes of uneven development
The consequences of uneven development
Studying a LIC and a NIC
Reducing the development gap
Try this
Q1. What is the development gap? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. The difference in wealth and quality of life between the richer, more developed countries and the poorer, less developed countries of the world.
Q2. Explain one strategy used to reduce the development gap. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Fairtrade guarantees producers in poorer countries a fairer, more stable price for goods such as coffee or cocoa, plus a premium for community projects, so farmers earn more and can invest in better living standards, helping to narrow the gap.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC Unit 2 (Theme 6)4 marksDescribe the causes of uneven development at the global scale.Show worked answer →
A short data-response describe question. Reward described causes from more than one category.
Physical and historical. Some countries have few resources, a difficult climate (drought) or natural hazards, while many poorer countries were held back by colonialism, which took resources and shaped unfair trade.
Economic and political. Reliance on selling cheap raw materials, debt, and political instability or corruption also keep some countries poor.
Top marks. Two or three causes drawn from physical, historical, economic and political factors.
WJEC Unit 2 (Theme 6)8 marksAssess the strategies used to reduce the development gap.Show worked answer →
An assess/extended question (levels marking). Reward a balanced look at strategies with a judgement.
Aid and investment. International aid, debt relief, and investment by transnational companies can fund development, but aid can create dependency and TNC profits may leave the country.
Trade and bottom-up schemes. Fairtrade, microfinance and intermediate (appropriate) technology help producers directly and are often more sustainable, but work on a smaller scale.
Judgement. Conclude which strategies are most effective and sustainable, recognising that a mix, suited to the country, usually works best.
Related dot points
- Key Idea 6.1: measuring global inequalities, what development means, the economic and social indicators used to measure it (GNI per head, the HDI, birth and death rates, literacy and life expectancy), the limitations of single indicators, and the global pattern of development (the development gap and the LIC, NIC, HIC classification).
A focused answer on Key Idea 6.1 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 2: what development means, the economic and social indicators used to measure it, the limitations of single indicators, and the global pattern of development including the development gap and the LIC, NIC and HIC classification.
- Key Idea 6.3: water resources and their management, the global pattern of water supply and demand, the causes of water surplus and water deficit (scarcity and stress), the impacts of an inadequate water supply, and the strategies used to manage water resources sustainably.
A focused answer on Key Idea 6.3 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 2: the global pattern of water supply and demand, the causes of water surplus and deficit, the impacts of an inadequate water supply, and the strategies used to manage water resources sustainably.
- Key Idea 6.4: regional economic development, the changing economic structure of a country (primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors), the causes of regional inequality within a country, the role of transnational companies, and the strategies used to reduce regional differences.
A focused answer on Key Idea 6.4 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 2: the changing economic structure of a country, the causes of regional inequality, the role of transnational companies, and the strategies used to reduce regional differences in development.
- Key Idea 7.1 (Theme 7): measuring social development, the difference between economic and social development, the indicators of social development (health, education, gender equality and access to services), and the reasons social development varies within and between countries.
A focused answer on Key Idea 7.1 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 2 (Theme 7): the difference between economic and social development, the indicators of social development (health, education, gender equality, access to services), and why social development varies within and between countries.
- Key Idea 2.3: urban issues in contrasting global cities, the global pattern and causes of urbanisation (rural-to-urban migration and natural increase), the growth of megacities, and the challenges (squatter settlements, services, traffic, pollution) and opportunities of rapid urban growth, especially in a lower-income or newly industrialised country.
A focused answer on Key Idea 2.3 for WJEC GCSE Geography Unit 1: the global pattern and causes of urbanisation, rural-to-urban migration and natural increase, the growth of megacities, and the challenges and opportunities of rapid urban growth in a lower-income or newly industrialised country.
Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Geography (Wales) specification (3110) — WJEC (2019)