How is development measured, and how does it vary across the world?
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.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point covers Key Idea 6.1 of WJEC Unit 2: measuring global inequalities. You need to explain what development means, the economic and social indicators used to measure it (GNI per head, the HDI, birth and death rates, literacy, life expectancy), the limitations of single indicators, and the global pattern of development (the development gap and the LIC, NIC, HIC classification).
What development means and how it is measured
The limitations of single indicators
The Human Development Index
The global pattern of development
Try this
Q1. What is GNI per head? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Gross National Income per head is the total income of a country divided by its population, giving the average income per person; it is an economic indicator used to compare the wealth of countries.
Q2. Explain one limitation of using birth rate alone to measure development. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Birth rate is only one social indicator, so it shows part of the picture (often higher in poorer countries) but ignores wealth, health care and education; on its own it cannot capture a country's overall level of development, which is why composite measures like the HDI are preferred.
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 two indicators used to measure development.Show worked answer →
A short data-response describe question. Reward two clearly described indicators.
Economic indicator. Gross National Income (GNI) per head is the average income per person in a country, used to show how wealthy it is.
Social indicator. Life expectancy is the average number of years a person can expect to live, which reflects health care, diet and living conditions.
Other valid indicators include the HDI, birth and death rates, literacy rate and infant mortality. Reward any two, clearly described.
WJEC Unit 2 (Theme 6)6 marksExplain why a single indicator can give a misleading picture of development.Show worked answer →
A short explain question (levels marking). Reward developed reasons, ideally with the HDI as a better measure.
Averages hide differences. An indicator such as GNI per head is an average, so it hides the gap between rich and poor within a country and between regions.
One side only. An economic indicator alone ignores quality of life (health, education), and data can be out of date or unreliable in some countries.
A better measure. The Human Development Index (HDI) combines income, life expectancy and education, giving a fuller picture than any single indicator.
Top band. Explain the weaknesses of single indicators and why a composite measure such as the HDI is more reliable.
Related dot points
- 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.
- 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)