World Geography: Interdependence, Globalization, and Regional Development

Why is studying geography important in the context of globalization?

Places are increasingly interdependent and interconnected economically, culturally, politically, and environmentally

What are some examples of political interdependence between countries?

Trade agreements, treaty organizations like NATO, military alliances, and international organizations such as the UN

What is regionalization?

The process through which distinctive areas come into being, and it affects and is affected by globalization

What does geographic scale refer to?

Variable sized units of geographical analysis, ranging from local -> regional -> global

What is a cartogram?

A map that purposefully distorts space to convey information about a particular variable

What defines economic globalization?

Involves countries specializing in certain types of manufacturing, with wealthier countries having more diversified economies compared to poorer countries

What is the core-periphery model in the World-System theory?

An interdependent system of countries where core countries dominate economically and politically, while periphery countries are economically vulnerable and dependent

What are Core Countries?

Dominate trade, have advanced technology, and diverse economy

Ex: Most of western Europe, US, Canada, etc

What are semi-periphery countries?

Those that are exploited by core countries but also have some ability to exploit periphery countries

Ex: BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) & Mexico

What is the relationship between economic uncertainty and pregnancy rates?

Economic uncertainty = decrease in pregnancies

Ex: COVID-19, the Great Depression

What are Periphery Countries?

Vulnerable economies and politically weak; highly dependent upon Core Countries

Ex: Haiti, third world countries

What is the Global South?

states that generate significantly lower levels of wealth and lack the political influence of states in the global north

(periphery or semi-periphery countries)

What is uneven development in the context of globalization?

The disparities in economic and social well-being across different geographic scales

affects life expectancy, income, and education

What does GDP per capita measure?

The total value of goods and services produced by a country in one year divided by its total population

What is the Human Development Index (HDI)?

An index that measures a country's average achievements in health, education, and income

What does GNI leave out in terms of development? What are its shortcomings?

Education, Health, Inequality (distribution of income), Subsistence agriculture, Informal Economy

What are the four economic sectors in economic structure?

Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary

What is Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)?

An adjustment made to the exchange rates of two currencies to make them at par with the purchasing power of each other

What jobs are under the Primary Sector?

Agriculture, Fishing, MIning, Forestry

What jobs are under the Secondary sector?

Manufacturing

What jobs are under the Tertiary sector?

Everything else

Ex: doctor, lawyer, nurse

What jobs are under the Quaternary sector?

"information jobs"

Ex: IT, education, etc

What is the purpose of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?

to remove trade barriers between the United States, Canada, and Mexico

Examples of Trade Barriers?

tariffs, subsidies, quotas, labor regulations, environmental regulations, etc

What is the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)?

An updated version of NAFTA

What is the 12% offset?

-More trees are planted than cut down, resulting in greater CO2 absorption than emissions

-contributing to carbon sequestration

What are the primary sources of electricity production in the US?

-38% Natural Gas

-24% Coal, 20% Nuclear

-18% Renewables (including Wind, Hydro, Solar, and Biomass)

What are the per capita CO2 emissions for the US, Canada, China, and India?

US: 15.5 metric tons

Canada: 15 metric tons

China: 7.2 metric tons

India: 1.8 metric tons

What is the significance of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in GNI calculations?

PPP adjusts GNI figures for cost of living differences between countries, providing a more accurate measure of economic well-being

What percentage of Chinese exports go to the US?

19%

What is suburbanization?

The movement out of central cities into fringes, particularly after 1950

What factors contributed to suburbanization in the post-WWII economy?

-More money, baby boom, desire for more space

-construction of interstates

-affordability of cars

-overcrowding, pollution, crime, and white flight (push factors in central city)

What was the impact of colonization on indigenous populations in Latin America?

-Death of 50 million indigenous people, which was 90% of the region's population at the time

-cultural losses & changes

-hybridization of cultural beliefs and practices (indigenous with African beliefs w/ those from colonizers) (Ex: Spain, Portugal)

What was the Transatlantic Slave Trade?

The forced transportation of 9-10 million African slaves over a 250-year period

What is the Columbian Exchange?

The exchange of people, animals, plants, diseases, and pests between Europe and Latin America

What is the significance of Inti Raymi in Ecuador?

-It is a winter solstice celebration known as the 'Festival of the Sun' with various local customs

-also known as Festivals of San Pedro and San Pablo

What is the "Taking of the Square"?

-celebrated during Inti Raymi in Cotacachi, Ecuador

-symbolic of taking "the square" back from the colonizer

What did the geographic pattern of early transportation networks in Latin America look like?

from coast to inner cities, vice versa

What were the goals of post-colonial Latin America?

To raise the overall standard of living through industrialization

What is Import Substitution Industrialization?

-economic strategy from the 1930s to 1970s

-focus on government-owned industries

-domestic production (many trade barriers, tariffs, and restrictions)

What is the 'Debt Cycle/Trap' in Latin America?

A situation where money goes to pay interest on external debts, leaving less for internal development

Why is gdp ratio the most accurate measure of a country's debt?

because of its relativity to the size of the economy

What are Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs)?

Programs that impose conditions on loans, requiring privatization, marketization, and lower trade barriers

What are SAPs?

Structural Adjustment Programs

What do Structural Adjustment Programs do?

-Cut public spending on government services

-lower trade barriers

-attract multi-national corporations (MNCs)

-sometimes de-value currency

What are Export Processing Zones (EPZs)?

Areas created by governments to attract export-oriented industries with favorable investment conditions

What is the significance of Maquiladoras in Mexico?

-Factories that produce goods primarily for export to the US, benefiting from low labor costs and tax incentives

-Mexican businesses have partial ownership

Where are the biggest Maquiladoras located?

closest to the US/Mexico boarder

What percentage of the Amazon Forest has been cleared since 1900?

20%

What is the geographic pattern of deforestation in Latin America?

-they vary spatially

-commonly along existing road networks/major highways

What are the main drivers of deforestation in the Amazon?

Government policy, international exports, local demand, population growth, poverty, cattle ranching, soybean production, and logging

What are the consequences of deforestation?

Climate impacts, loss of biodiversity, erosion, and reduced carbon sequestration

How is deforestation measured?

Using remote sensing and geographic information science analysis, focusing on net deforestation (satellite imagery)

What is net deforestation?

The difference between trees cut and trees planted in a given time period

What solutions exist for combating deforestation?

Ecotourism and reforestation initiatives, often involving partnerships with local and international organizations

What is the role of the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation?

To partner with organizations to fund reforestation initiatives in Ecuador

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