Social Studies final

Rural Decline

worsening economic conditions in the countryside, including rising unemployment and growing poverty

Spatial Inequality

the unequal distribution of wealth or resources in a geographic area, so that some places are richer than others

Standard of Living

the overall level of comfort and well-being of a group or a country

Urbanization

the movement of people from rural to urban areas, resulting in the growth of urban areas

Arable Land

land suitable for growing crops

Arithmetic Population Density

the population of a country divided by its total land area

Physiologic Population Density

the population of a country divided by its arable land area

Population Distribution

where people live in a country, whether crowded together in cities or spread out across the countryside

Doubling Time

the length of time it takes for a population to double

Famine

a severe shortage of food that results in widespread hunger

Rate of Natural Increase

the annual rate of population growth. This percentage is calculated by subtracting the death rate from the birth rate. It does not include people moving into or out of a country.

Zero Population Growth

a condition in which the population of a country does not grow up remains stable. This condition comes about when the birth rate plus immigration equals the death rate plus emigration.

Economic Interdependence

a condition in which countries have strong economic ties and depend on each other for resources, technology, trade, and investment

Free Trade

the flow of goods and services across national borders, with little or no government control

Globalization

the development of a global, or worldwide, society in which people, money, information, and goods flow fairly freely across national borders

Multinational Corporation

a large company that has operations in more than one country

Comparative Advantage

the ability of one country to produce a good or provide a service at lower cost or more effectively than another country

Information Technology

the use of technology to move record, and process information. IT includes computers, communication satellites, cell phones, and the internet

Outsource

to hire someone outside a company to do work that was once done inside the company. Information technology has made it possible to outsource jobs to businesses in other countries.

Time Zone

an area that uses the same clock time. Earth is divided into 24 standard time zones. Clocks in each zone are set to the same hour and minute.