Global Inequalities

The North-South GapClassifying Countries

Our Constantly Changing World

One result of the Global Village has been the increasing gap between rich and poor

Both on a local and global scale

Wealthy countries are concentrated in one part of the world, while poor countries seem to be concentrated in another – WHY IS THIS SO?

Some of the poorest countries have not been able to take advantage of new communications technologies to be competitive

According the UN Human Development Report (1996):

The richest 20% of countries controlled 70% of the global income

By 1993, they controlled 85% The shift towards a global world

economy threatens to widen this gap

The North-South Gap

The 20% that owns almost 85% of the world’s wealth live almost entirely in the northern hemisphere.

The poorest 20% are located in the southern hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere

Southern Hemisphere

You Live Here

LLDCs (June 2007)

North-South Gap (cont’d)

The discrepancy (difference) between rich and poor countries is called the North- South Gap

The Northern countries have the greatest wealth, highest standard of living, and the greatest industrial development – but the lowest population

The southern countries have the bulk of the world’s population, but less of the wealth, low standard of living, and far less industrial development

Classifying Countries

Countries are classified in terms of: social, economic, and political structures

The older system used the terms: first (U.S., Canada, U.K.), second (China, Russia), third, fourth and even fifth (Afghanistan, Ethiopia) world countries

Classifying Countries (cont’d) The current system uses the following terms: 1. more developed countries (MDCs) richest of industrialized nations, high quality of

life, good health care, highly educated population2. less developed countries (LDCs) Little industrial development, little wealth, high

population growth3. least developed countries (LLDCs) Includes 36 extremely poor countries, low

income, low literacy rates, and little industry

Our Constantly Changing world

The most notable change in our world today is the increase in population

Population changes exponentially This constant change strains the global

resources base People need food, shelter, clothing, and land This rapid increase results in environmental

degradation and damage – examples?

Definitions to Know

GNP/GDP- $ a country makes PQLI- Personal Quality of Life (Index) Life Expectancy- how long you are expected to

live Birth Rate- how many babies born in a year Death Rate- how many people die that year Infant Mortality Rate- rate babies that die in the

first year Literacy Rate- how many people can read