GRADE 9 – GEOGRAPHY
DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
MEDC LEDC
Adapted
From
REASONS FOR DIFFERENCE IN DEVELOPMENT
RAJENDRA DAVECHAND
• Reasons for difference in development.
• Historical factors such as colonialism.
• Trade – imbalance – unfair trade
• Technology and industrialisation.
• Health and welfare.
• Education.
• Political stability
R. Davechand 2020
More economically developed countries (MEDC)
• A term referring to a country that is developed or highly industrialised, in which the in which most
people have access to health care and education.
• Includes most of Europe, North America, parts of Latin America and East Asia.
• Mostly in Northern hemisphere.
Brandt’s North
South Divide
Line clearly
illustrates that
most of the
MEDCs are
found in the
Northern
Hemisphere
R. Davechand 2020
Less economically developed countries (LEDC)
• They are low-income countries confronting severe structural impediments (obstacles) to sustainable
development. They are highly vulnerable (at risk) to economic and environmental shocks and generally
have low levels of human assets.
• Includes most of Africa, Indian Subcontinent, and parts of Latin America.
Point to note
Newly industrialised countries (NICs )
Are countries whose economy has not yet reached the MEDC stage but has surpassed the LEDC stage.
China, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Malaysia, China, India, Thailand, Philippines and Turkey.
R. Davechand 2020
INDICATORS OF MEDC LEDC
DEVELOPMENT
GDP HIGH LOW
GNP HIGH LOW MEDC LEDC
GDP PER CAPITA HIGH LOW
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE LOW HIGH
EMPLOYMENT LARGE NUMBER LARGE NUMBER
IN TERTIARY IN PRIMARY
SECTOR SECTOR
BIRTH RATE LOW HIGH
DEATH RATE LOW HIGH
LIFE EXPECTANCY HIGH LOW
INFANT MORTALITY LOW HIGH
LITERACY LEVEL HIGH LOW
HDI HIGH LOW
ENVIRONMENTAL LOW HIGH
PROBLEMS
POPULATION GROWTH LOW HIGH
RATE
LEVEL OF URBANISATION HIGH LOW R. Davechand 2020
Reasons for difference in development
• Historical factor - Colonialism is the act of one nation controlling another for economic gain.
• Example of colonialism was Great Britain’s control over South Africa.
• It generally had a negative impact on the country that was colonized.
• Colonialists exploited colonized countries raw materials.
• Processed raw materials in their own countries creating employment and development in their countries.
• Sold processed goods to colonized countries at much higher profits.
• Exploited people of colonized countries e.g. cheap labour, limited skills development and general
education, restricted development and in a significant number of instances local were treated as slaves.
R. Davechand 2020
Trade
Is the buying and selling of goods and services.
• Trade across countries is unequal e.g. approximately half the worlds trade takes place between 8 MEDCs
(G8).
• LEDC countries main exports are raw materials, which is sold at low prices.
• MEDC countries buy raw materials, process it, and sell it at high prices.
• MEDCs dominate trade across the world and they can afford to lower prices if there is completion.
• Results in development of MEDCs e.g. increase in employment, skills development, development in
infrastructure. LEDCs remain poor due to low salaries, less taxes and foreign exchange resulting in limited
development.
R. Davechand 2020
Trade
Is the buying and selling of goods and services.
Unfair trade
Any trade practice that provides an unfair advantage to one party. For example, a country pays
another country a low price for it’s raw material.
Trade imbalance
Occurs when a country is spending more money on imports than it makes on exports.
R. Davechand 2020
Technology and industrialisation
Technology is the skills, methods, and processes used to achieve goals e.g. using technology to produce
goods or services.
Industrialisation is the process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based
on the manufacturing of goods.
• Technology encourages industrialisation, resulting in development.
• Allows for faster production and better quality products.
• If available and properly used, it results in rapid industrialisation
• LEDCs have limited expertise and technology. This results in limited industrialisation focusing more on the
primary sector.
• MEDCs have expertise and technology. This results in rapid industrialisation focusing more on the
secondary and tertiary sector.
R. Davechand 2020
Health and Welfare
Health is a person's mental or physical condition.
Welfare is the health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group.
• A countries health and welfare will depend on various factors e.g. health facilities (like hospitals), Social services (social
workers and psychologist), infrastructure (electricity), education, employment, a nutritious diet (food security) and the
general basic needs.
• Good health and welfare will improve development.
Examples
• People will be more productive.
• Less money spent on health and welfare services.
• More skilled labour available
• MEDCs have good health and welfare facilities allowing for more development.
• LEDCs have limited health and welfare facilities which slows development.
R. Davechand 2020
Education
Education is defined as the process of gaining knowledge e.g. attending a school, university or
college.
• Technology encourages industrialisation, resulting in development.
• In order to have good technology we need an effective education system with the main focus on
skills development e.g. engineers, scientists.
• MEDCs have far more effective education system compared to LEDCs.
R. Davechand 2020
Political stability
Politically stable Politically unstable
• Country run well by government. • Country not run well by government.
• Government longevity. • Government can change regularly.
• No or limited corruption and finances are used for the • Generally corruption is common and finances are
benefit of the country and it’s people. mismanaged.
• People generally happy support government policies • People generally unhappy and do not support
• Very little or no political unrest and protests. government.
• High productivity and development. • Political unrest and protests against government are
• Attracts foreign investment. common.
• Low productivity and development.
• Discourages foreign investment
R. Davechand 2020
A Activity B
1. Identify the factor, illustrated by the pictures, that effects development.
2. Match pictures A and B with the concepts LEDC and MEDC.
3. Explain how this factor, answer to QUESTION 1 effects the development of a country.
4. Describe the impact technology has on industrialisation.
R. Davechand 2020
Activity
1. Explain the concept colonialism.
2. Explain the negative social impact of colonialism on colonized countries.
3. Explain the negative economic impact of colonialism on colonized countries.
Countries that colonized are MEDCs and Colonized countries are LEDCs. Explain.
R. Davechand 2020
• Historical factor - Colonialism is the act of one nation controlling another for economic
gain.
• Example of colonialism was Great Britain’s control over South Africa.
• It generally had a negative impact on the country that was colonized.
• Colonialists exploited colonized countries raw materials.
• Processed raw materials in their own countries creating employment and development in
their countries.
• Sold processed goods to colonized countries at much higher profits.
• Exploited people of colonized countries e.g. cheap labour, limited skills development and
general education, restricted development and in a significant number of instances local
were treated as slaves.
