Global Geo Study Outline:

Natural increase rate: the difference between a country’s birth and death rate. Used to measure population
change.
Infant mortality: the number of children in a country that die before reaching the age of one. Measured per
every1000 births
Dependency load: the percentage of a population (aged 15 and younger and 65 and older) that must be
supported by the independent working population.
Migration rate: the difference between immigration and emigration rates of a country. Only a few countries
have a large positive migration rate
Why do we compare countries?
Countries are compared in order to meet the needs of different groups. Grouping countries by cultures can
prevent misunderstanding, like what happened in Pakistan and India during British rule. Countries are also
grouped according to location, as countries in the same location would have the same climate, and would have
similar problems.
MEDC/LEDC Model
This model divides countries into 2 groups, More Economically Developed Countries, and Less Economically
Developed Countries. MEDCs are generally a lot richer and have lower population growth rates when
compared to LEDCs. Norway is a MEDC and Mali is a LEDC.
3-World Model
Was originally used to categorize countries based on their political affiliations during the cold war.
- 1st world countries: affiliated with the western bloc and Capitalist democracies. They had advanced
economies and were most prosperous at the time (Ex US and Canada)
- 2nd world countries: affiliated with the eastern bloc, including socialist and communist states. They
had mostly planned economies (Soviet Union)
- 3rd world countries: not affiliated with anyone and characterized by low levels of development and
wealth. (most of Asia)
How to group countries:
- Countries can be grouped by using indicators such as the HDI, (which measures well-being in
countries using indicators like health, education) the SPI, (measures how well a country can provide
for the needs for its citizens), the Gini Index, (measures wealth inequality in a country), and GDP per
Capita, (measures how much money each person has in a country).
4 stages of population growth:
1) Hunter-Gatherer: when people were nomadic hunters and gatherers. Food supply was erratic and
unreliable, and if an area had more food, there would be a longer life expectancy for the people living
there and vice versa. Because such a large area of land was needed to support such a small population,
world population was low, 10s of millions at most. Life expectancy was very low, and there was
minimal population growth.
 2) Agricultural revolution: this is when people began to learn how to farm and cultivate food. This
created a food surplus, which had significant effects on society. Because more food could be produced
from each square kilometer, more people started living longer causing a population boom
3) Industrial revolution: this was the shift from agriculture-based, homemade goods economies to more
industry-based, machinery-made goods economies. This caused populations to grow.
4) Green revolution: breakthroughs in science allowed farmers to modify their crops to be high yield,
fast growing, and pest resistant. This had staggering effects, especially on developing regions
MEDC/LEDC
- Per capita GDP: in a MEDC, this is high, because of stable governments, foreign investment, and
educated population. In a LEDC, this is low because of unstable government, history of colonization,
and lack of foreign investment.
- Infant Mortality: in a MEDC, this is low, because of good healthcare and sanitation. In a LEDC, this is
high because of poor living conditions and inadequate healthcare/sanitation
- Fertility rate: in a MEDC, this is very low, due to low infant mortality rates and available birth control.
In a LEDC, this is very high, due to high infant mortality, and lack of contraceptives and education
- Education: In a MEDC, it is high, as people can afford it, and there is a value for it. In a LEDC, it is
low, due to poverty, infant mortality, and less value for it.
Stages of demographic transition:
1) Pretransition: life expectancy was extremely low, with birth and death rates being very high. Couples
would have up to 10 children, as most would die before reaching adulthood, and the need for labor
and a son to look after ageing parents was crucial.
2) Early Transition: Death rates decreased, while birth rates remained high, causing a huge population
boom. From 1 billion people in 1804, to nearly 8 billion in 2019, this decreased death rate was the
result of many technological advancements, like sanitation, water purification, and disease control.
Families still had up to 10 children, as religious constraints had been placed on birth control, while
labor shortages persisted and the need for a son too look after ageing parent was still vital.
3) Late Transition: birth rates decreased, as families who moved to cities began to feel the financial strain
of having many children in the city. Women began to work outside of homes, their added income
nullifying the need to have children solely for labor purposes. While farm families still benefitted
from the free labor, families in cities began to realize the cost of having up to 10 children in the city.
4) Post transition: birth and death rates are low, with households having smaller families. Ideas of a
woman’s role have changed, and life expectancy has increased. Life is highly urbanized.
Challenges associated with an ageing population:
There are many challenges associated with an ageing population, including higher healthcare costs. Seniors
need more healthcare, leading to increased healthcare expenses. Labour shortages are also a problem, as more
retirees means fewer workers, which can hurt economic productivity. There is also a strain on pensions, as
growing numbers of retirees puts pressure on social security systems, risking funding shortfalls.
MPI and its advantages:
The MPI is calculated for the 101 countries that are generally considered to be poor. It is multidimensional as
it considers 10 indicators from 3 dimensions – health, education, and living standards. Each of the 10
indicators are weighted, so that each dimension has equal value when measuring MPI scores. The MPI looks
at more than just wealth when measuring poverty, it looks at things like education and health as well. This
helps find where people are struggling the most so that help can be given where it is needed.
Halifax Housing Crisis:
The housing crisis in Halifax stems from a few key issues. With a vacancy rate around 1%, finding available
rental units is difficult. Additionally, rising rental costs have outpaced income growth, making housing
unaffordable for many. Population growth further strains the housing market. To address this, significantly
increasing investment in affordable housing projects is crucial. This will create more housing options for
residents and help reduce homelessness.
Pros and Cons of Globalization:
Pros:
- Economic growth: globalization expands markets and fosters competition, leading to increased
efficiency and production
- Promotion of peace: economic interdependence created by globalization reduces chances of conflict
between nations (golden arches theory)
- Sharing of cultures and technology: globalization facilitates the exchange of ideas, cultures, and
technologies across borders.
Cons:
- Exploitation of workers: some companies take advantage of cheap labor in poorer countries, paying
low wages and ignoring worker rights
- Loss of cultures: local traditions and languages may disappear as global culture becomes more
dominant
- Environmental damage: globalization can lead to more pollution and harm to nature because of
increased production.
Rostow’s stages of economic development:
1) Traditional society: this is a pre-industrial society characterized by subsistence agriculture, limited
technology, and social structures based on tradition. Canada before 1850.
2) Establishing conditions for takeoff: in this stage, foundations for economic growth are laid. This
includes developing infrastructure, establishing a banking system, and promoting education. Canada
after 1850’s
3) Economic takeoff: this is a period of rapid economic growth, often spurred by a leading sector like
textiles or manufacturing. Investment increases and new technologies are adopted. Canada by 1900
4) Drive to maturity: this stage sees continued economic growth with a wider range of industries
developing. Technological advancements become more widespread. Canada by 1950
5) Age of high mass consumption: this final stage represents a society with a high standard of living and
widespread consumerism. There is a focus on advanced technology and service industries. Canada
from 1950’s
Factors TNCs consider:
1) Market potential: TNCs look for countries with big and growing markets fueled by large populations
and a strong GDP
2) Infrastructure: good transportation, communication, and utilities are essential for smoot operation
3) Political stability: stable governments and fair law provide a secure environment for long-term
investment
Factors that create political instability:
- Corrupt Government: people won’t trust a corrupt government, which may cause rebellions or
revolutions, thus creating political instability
- War: war can create political instability as people may not agree with the war. Which may cause
revolutions or rebellions
- Economic decline: economic decline can cause political instability as people may be upset about the
poverty and revolt
Somalia and its challenges:
In the 1980’s, the Somali government became increasingly authoritarian, resulting in resistance groups
developing to oppose the government, which caused a civil war. The people of Somalia face severe poverty,
starvation, and violence. Thousands were killed and almost 2 million people became refugees. In addition to
the effects of war, civilians suffered from drought and other natural disasters. Terrorist groups also caused
much instability. The population is still suffering from the effects of these conditions.
Authoritarianism vs democracy
- Source of power: in authoritarianism, power rests with a single leader or small group, with little to no
public input (Ex North Korea). In democracy, power originates from the people. Citizens elect
representatives who make laws and govern on their behalf (Ex Canada).
- Decision making: in authoritarianism, decisions are made with little to no public input. Leaders may
also prioritize personal gain over public good (Russia going to war). In democracy, decisions are
debated and voted on by elected officials (Ex US congress voting on laws)
- Civilian rights: in authoritarianism, there is limited freedom of speech, press, and assembly (Ex Russia
banning protests and independent media). Democracy aims to protect basic rights like freedom of
speech and assembly (Ex Canada, where civilians can protest freely)
- Leader accountability: in authoritarianism, there is no real accountability (Ex North Koreas leader still
being in power despite civilian desires). In democracy, elected officials are accountable to voters (Ex
voters in Canada can vote out a party they dislike during elections.
Fragile States Index:
The FSI ranks countries based on their risk of conflict or collapse. It considers factors like social unrest and
government effectiveness.
- Social: high tensions, refugee flows, and brain drain can affect stability.
- Economic: poverty, uneven development, and foreign economic pressure can cause strain
- Political: weak or untrusted government with poor public services and human rights issues can cause
discontent