Human geo acronyms

CBD

Central Business District - the downtown heart of a city, characterized by high land values, dense, vertical development (skyscrapers), and a concentration of business, financial, and public services

CBR

Crude birth rate - the total number of live births per 1,000 people in a population per year

CDR

Crude death rate- the total number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population per year

DTM

Demographic transition model - a 5-stage framework explaining how countries transition from high birth/death rates to low birth/death rates as they industrialize and develop

EDR

Economic dependency ratio- a demographic metric used to measure the ratio of dependents

ETM

Epidemiological Transition Model -changing causes of death, mortality, and life expectancy as spcieties advance

EEZ

Exclusive economic zone - maritime zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline

EPZ

Export processing zone- specialized industrial areas in developing nations (periphery/semi-periphery) designed to attract foreign investment by offering tax exemptions, reduced regulations, and duty-free import of raw materials

FTZ

Free trade zone - a specific, designated area within a country (often near airports or seaports) where goods can be landed, handled, manufactured, or re-exported without customs intervention or tariffs

GDI

Gender-related decelopment index - measures gender gaps in human development—health, education, and income—by comparing female and male HDI values

GII

Gender inequality index - metric measuring gender disparities across three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation

GIS

Geographic information system - a crucial geospatial tool used for analyzing urban development, agriculture, and environmental issues by overlaying data sets

GPS

Global positioning system - a satellite-based navigation system used in AP Human Geography to determine the precise mathematical location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of people or objects on Earth

GDP

Gross domestic product - measures the total value of all final goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific year

GNI

Gross national income - measuring the average income earned by a country’s residents (including foreign earnings) divided by its population

GNP

Gross national product - measures the total value of goods and services produced by a country’s citizens and companies, regardless of where they are located in the world, usually over one year

HDI

Human development index - a composite statistic used in AP Human Geography to measure a country's development based on three key dimensions: health (life expectancy at birth), education (years of schooling), and standard of living (gross national income per capita)

IMR

Infant mortality rate - the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year

LMP

RNI

Rate of natural increase - the percentage by which a population grows or declines annually, calculated as

SEZ

Special economic zone - designated areas in developing nations (often coastal) that offer incentives like tax breaks, reduced tariffs, and relaxed environmental/labor regulations to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and boost exports

TFR

Total fertility rate- the average number of children a woman has during her reproductive years (ages 15–49)

UNLCOS

ASEAN

Assosiation of southeast asian nations - a key supranational organization (established 1967) comprising 10 Southeast Asian nations aimed at promoting economic growth, regional peace, and cultural cooperation

CDC

DACA

Deferred action for childhood arrivals - a U.S. immigration policy established in 2012 that allows certain undocumented immigrants who arrived in the country as children to receive a renewable two-year, or sometimes three-year, period of deferred action from deportation

DMZ

FARC

IMF

NAFTA

North american free trade - a treaty between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that eliminated most tariffs and trade barriers to encourage economic integration

NATO

North atlantic treaty organization - represents a challenge to state sovereignty, where members pledge mutual defense

PPP

Purchasing power parity - an economic adjustment tool used to compare living standards and income across countries more accurately than nominal GDP

UNHCR

United nations high commissioner for refugees - a UN agency protecting forced migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing persecution, conflict, or violence

WTO

World trade organization - a supranational organization established in 1995 to promote neoliberal policies, globalization, and free trade by reducing barriers like tariffs