HHD- Unit 4 AOS1, Chapters 8,9,10

Economic characteristics of high-income countries

• low levels of poverty

• high average incomes

• wide range of industries

• opportunities for global trade

social characteristics of high-income countries

• high levels of gender equality

• low birth rates and population growth

• developed health systems

• high levels of education and employment

environmental characteristics of high-income countries

• access to safe water and sanitation

• food security

• adequate housing

• high levels of CO₂ emissions

• adequate infrastructure

human development

creating an environment in which people can develop to their full potential and lead productive, creative lives according to their needs and interests. It’s about expanding people’s choices and enhancing capabilities, having access to knowledge, health and a decent standard of living, and participating in the life of their community and decisions affecting their lives

elements critical to human development

• lead long and healthy lives

• lead productive and creative lives according to their needs and interests

• access knowledge and expand their choices and capabilities

• access resources needed for a decent standard of living

• participate in the life of their community

• participate in the decisions that affect their lives

human development index (HDI)

a tool developed by the UN to measure and rank countries’ levels of social and economic development. it provides a single statistic based on 3 dimensions (long and healthy life, knowledge, decent standard of living), and 4 indicators (life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling, and GNI per capita)

life expectancy at birth

the average number of years of life remaining to an individual at a particular age if death rates don’t change

mean years of schooling

the average number of years of formal education achieved by those aged 25 and over

expected years of schooling

the numbers of years of formal education expected for a child of school-entrance age

GNI per capita

the overall income of a country after expenses owing to other countries have been paid, divided by the population of the country

advantages of the HDI

• takes more than just average incomes into account, so it provides a more comprehensive representation of the level of HD experienced

• it’s a composite statistic, making comparison easier

• it’s effective for analysing progress made by countries over time

limitations of the HDI

• it only reflects selected aspects of HD and therefore doesn’t capture the richness and depth of HD

• it’s based on averages and doesn’t provide an indication of the inequalities that exist within countries

• no survey data is collected for the HDI, meaning people’s feelings about their lives and the issues facing communities are not reflected

similarities in low, middle, and high income countries

• life expectancy has increased in most countries between 1990 and 2019

• infant, under-5, and maternal mortality rates are decreasing in all income groups

• rates of obesity and associated conditions are increasing in all income groups

• all income groups experienced a decrease in the HDI and levels of human development in 2020 and 2021

• the HDI and levels of human development increased in all income groups between 1990 and 2019

differences in low, middle, and high income countries

• life expectancy is higher in high income countries

• mortality rates due to infectious disease are higher in low income countries

• many middle income countries experience a double burden of disease, where conditions associated with under and over nutrition occur simultaneously

• the HDI decreases as average income decreases

access to safe water

water that’s not contaminated with disease-causing pathogens or chemicals. safe water is required for consumption, hygiene, and agriculture

sanitation

the provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human urine and faeces, as well as the maintenance of hygienic conditions through services such as garbage collection and wastewater disposal

relative poverty

refers to those living on less than 50% of the country’s average income

discrimination

when a person or group of people is treated differently than others, often as a result of factors such as race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity

sustainability

meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

economic sustainability

ensuring that average incomes in all countries are adequate to sustain a decent standard of living and continue to rise in line with inflation and living costs in the future

factors of economic sustainability

1. innovation and diversity of industries

2. trade

3. job creation

4. economic growth

innovation and diversity of industries

a range of industries ensures that interruptions to specific industries won’t cause economic catastrophe

social sustainability

creating an equitable society where all people can access social resources, both now and into the future

factors of social sustainability

1. promote equality through the elimination of poverty and provision of social protection systems

2. gender equality

3. access to safe and decent working conditions

4. promotion of political and legal rights

5. peace and security

environmental sustainability

ensuring that the natural environment is used in a way that will preserve resources into the future

factors of environmental sustainability

1. biodiversity

2. use of natural resources

3. waste removal and pollution

4. climate change

climate change

long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns

causes of climate change

our climate has experienced changes over time due to small changes in the earth’s orbit around the sun. however, over the last 50 years, the burning of fossil fuels has resulted in an increase of greenhouse gases, trapping heat radiated from the sun

climate change and rising sea levels

increased greenhouse gas emissions have contributed to global warming and rising sea levels. this is due to an expansion of water that occurs as it warms, and an increase in the amount of water that occurs when the earth’s polar regions and glaciers melt

impact of rising sea levels

1. forced relocation of people living in coastal areas

2. reduction in the availability of fresh water

3. reduced availability of food

4. changes in biodiversity