Measuring development and the development gap
GNI per head is only one measure and often a misleading one. This lesson covers the indicators, the demographic transition and the causes of uneven development.
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Explain development gaps, strategies to reduce them and economic change in the UK.
Key learning points
- • Indicators and their limits
- • The demographic transition model
- • Causes of uneven development
- • Consequences
This lesson at a glance
- 30 minutes
- 21 parts to scroll through
- 4 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 21
Visual introductionPicture this
Measuring development and the development gap
GNI per head is only one measure and often a misleading one. This lesson covers the indicators, the demographic transition and the causes of uneven development.
In a nutshell
Explain development gaps, strategies to reduce them and economic change in the UK.
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 21
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Indicators and their limits
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 21
Learn
Indicators and their limits
GNI per head, birth and death rates, infant mortality, life expectancy, literacy and access to safe water each capture something different. Averages hide inequality, so composite measures such as the Human Development Index — income, education and life expectancy combined — give a fuller picture.
Reset break
Part 4 of 21
Pause
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Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 21
Learn
The demographic transition model
Five stages from high fluctuating birth and death rates through falling death rates, then falling birth rates, to low fluctuating rates and possible natural decrease. Use it to explain why population structures differ, not just to describe the curve.
Quick check
Part 6 of 21
Quick check
Part 7 of 21
Quick check
At which stage of the demographic transition does the death rate fall first?
Reset break
Part 8 of 21
Pause
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Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 21
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Causes of uneven development
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 21
Learn
Causes of uneven development
Physical causes include landlocked position, climate-related disease and natural hazard exposure. Economic causes include trade terms, debt and reliance on primary exports. Historical causes include colonialism and conflict. Strong answers link two together rather than listing.
Explore the idea
Part 11 of 21
Learn
Consequences
Disparities in wealth and health, and international migration as people move towards opportunity. Consequences feed back into causes, which is why development gaps are persistent rather than self-correcting.
Reset break
Part 12 of 21
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 13 of 21
Quick check
Part 14 of 21
Explore the idea
Part 15 of 21
Worked example
Model answer: 'Explain why GNI per head alone is a limited measure of development' (4 marks)
GNI per head is an average, so it conceals inequality: a country with a small, very wealthy elite can record a moderate figure while most of the population lives in poverty. It also measures only recorded monetary income, excluding subsistence farming and informal work that support many households. Because it says nothing about health, education or freedom, two countries with similar GNI can differ sharply in quality of life, which is why composite measures such as the HDI are preferred.
Reset break
Part 16 of 21
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 17 of 21
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 18 of 21
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
Averages hide inequality, so composite measures such as the Human ____ Index — income, education and life expectancy combined — give a fuller picture.
____ causes include trade terms, debt and reliance on primary exports.
Challenge round
Part 19 of 21
Game · Recall cards
Which measure combines income, education and life expectancy?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 20 of 21
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Measuring development and the development gap
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Which measure combines income, education and life expectancy?
2. At which stage of the demographic transition does the death rate fall first?
3. Which is a historical cause of uneven development?
4. Why is GNI per head misleading in an unequal country?
Lesson round-up
Part 21 of 21
Lesson round-up
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Ask LunaPart 1 of 21 · Watch & discover