How might education influence development?

In general, low levels of literacy and education can impede the economic development of a country and affect wellbeing. Workers will be less skilled and not able to do many jobs that require literacy to learn how to carry them out. Public understanding of for example health measures to avoid COVID would be less widely understood, hence increasing the impact of the virus.

The Demographic Transition Model is a geographic model designed to help explain changes in populations over time, especially the transition from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as countries become more developed. Many developing countries, particularly in Africa and Asia, are currently in stage two according to the demographic transition model. Death rates have fallen dramatically as better health care, sanitation and the provision of fresh water have improved the health and life expectancy of millions of people. Improvements have also been made in the care offered to women giving birth and of their newly born children. Millions more babies are now surviving into adulthood as a result of these improvements. Many developed countries in regions such as North America and Western Europe have reached stages four and five in their demographic transition. Birth rates have now fallen to such an extent that some of these countries have shrinking populations. The reason for this fall differs between countries but there are some common factors. A general improvement in living conditions, high use of contraception and other family planning methods, high rates of education and work participation among females and a movement from rural living to large cities all seem to be contributing factors to the falling birth rates.

China’s ‘one-child policy’. Introduced in 1979, its aim was to reduce the rate of population growth in the world’s most populous country. Couples in China were encouraged to have only one child, although the policy was unevenly applied across the country. One-child families were given better access to education, health care, jobs and houses while those that had more children were fined and lost access to important social services. The policy has been successful in reducing China’s growth rate and has likely resulted in 300 million fewer births since it was implemented in 1979. But there have also been a range of unintended consequences which are now causing concern. In China, people prefer to have sons rather than daughters, as boys traditionally support their parents in their old age. As parents could only have one child, many were ensuring that this was a boy. In some cases, this involved using an ultrasound machine to determine the sex of the foetus, and aborting the pregnancy if it was a girl. In other cases, baby girls were abandoned or sent to orphanages. This has led to a large imbalance between the sexes in some parts of China with 13 males born to every 10 females. China’s one-child policy began to be formally phased out in 2015.

Define wellbeing

The ability of human beings to access the things they need in order to live happy and

healthy lives (e.g. food, water, education, safety and security).

How does wealth impact upon wellbeing?

 Our access to the basic necessities of life (and any wants we may have) are determined largely by our degree of wealth and our ability to earn a living.

3. How does health impact upon wellbeing?

The ability of a community to treat and control the spread of diseases, provide health care when individuals are sick or injured, care for the vulnerable such as babies and the aged, and provide emergency services in times of crisis all enable people to live full lives but also to create wealth and be educated.

4. How does education impact upon wellbeing?

Being able to read and write (and being more educated in general), gives people access to a greater number of services and provides a range of options that can lead to better jobs, higher wages and improved standards of living. Education also increases people’s self-esteem and allows them to have more control over their future.

5. What is quantitative data?

Any information that can be recorded as numbers.

6. What is qualitative data?

Any information that can be recorded in words.

7. What are two common measures of quantitative data?

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and literacy rates.

8. What are two common ways of collecting qualitative data?

Surveys and interviews.

9. What is GDP? 

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the total market value of all goods and services produced within Australia in a given time frame.

10. What is GDP per capita?

Gives an approximation of the GDP per person in the country each year.

11. What are literacy rates?

Literacy rates give an indication of the number of people in a population who are able to read and write.

12. What is GNH and what does it use as its measures?

In Bhutan GNH is taken very seriously. A GNH measure is taken every year as the country’s government attempts to move its citizens towards a happier state. The four guiding principles of GNH are equitable social development, cultural preservation, conservation of the environment and promotion of

good governance.

13. What is HDI?

Human Development Index (HDI) gives an indication of whether a country is developed, still developing, or underdeveloped based on a range of factors such as life expectancy, education levels, literacy rates, and income levels per

capita. It also is a good indicator of the wellbeing of people in certain countries.

14. what are scatter plots

Scatter plots show the relationship between two  variables. This is known as correlation. If the variables both move in the same direction this is known as a positive correlation If they move in opposite directions this is known as a negative correlation.

15. Define ‘child mortality’

A measure of the number of deaths among children under five years per 1000 children born.

16. Define ‘fertility rates’

A statistical measure of the average number of children that all women in a particular area or population will have throughout the course of their lives; expressed as births per 1000 women. Fertility rates in the developing world are higher than they are in the developed world.

18. Define ‘Demographics’.

The statistical data of a population or of particular groups within a population,

especially those related to average age, gender, income, education level, etc.

Death rates have fallen dramatically as better health care, sanitation and the provision of fresh water have improved the health and life expectancy of millions of

people. Improvements have also been made in the care offered to women giving birth and of their newly born children. Millions more babies are now surviving into

adulthood as a result of these improvements. While these improvements have led to people enjoying longer, healthier lives, they have also created a problem. In these countries, there is currently a gap (or lag) between the fall in the death rate and a fall

in the birth rate, so populations are growing rapidly. This can cause economic and social challenges for a society.

21. What was China’s ‘one-child’ policy.

Its aim was to reduce the rate of population growth in the world’s most populous country. Couples in China were encouraged to have only one child, although the policy was unevenly applied across the country. One-child families were given better access to education, health care, jobs and houses while those that had more children were fined and lost access to important social services.

The term ‘fertility rates’ refers to

the average number of children all women in a society will have.

Demographics is 

the statistical study of a society’s population.

The three most important variables that influence levels of wellbeing around the world are:

Health, wealth, Education

29. What three aspects does the HDI take into account?

Health, education and living standards

Distinguish between HDI and GNH.

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a tool developed by the United Nations to grade and rank the social and economic development of the world’s countries in order from most to least developed. It is used as a measure of human wellbeing. The four guiding principles of Gross National Happiness (GNH) are equitable social development, cultural preservation, conservation of the environment and promotion of good governance.  Distinguishes for example, GNH relies more upon qualitative measures and HDI relies more upon quantitative measures.