1. Global Stratification
Hierarchy of wealth, power, and influence among the countries of the world

2. Cold War Terms for Global Stratification
First World – rich, industrialized countries
Second World – somewhat less industrialized, socialist countries
Third World – remaining non-industrialized, poor countries

3. Current Terms for Global Strat
High-Income Countries
rich because theirs were the first economies to be transformed by the Industrial Revolution
per capita income of $10,000 to $20,000 annually
together, countries with the most developed economies cover roughly 25% of the earth’s land area and lie mostly in the Northern Hemisphere
dominate the world’s scientific efforts; use the most complex and productive technologies; at the forefront of new information technology
US, Japan, Switzerland, Canada

4. Current Terms for Global Strat
Middle-Income Countries
Have experienced limited industrial development
Per capita income of $2,500 to $10,000 annually
Limited industrialization, primarily in the city; half the people still live in rural areas
Russia, Hungary, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Algeria, South Africa

5. Current Terms for Global Strat
Low-Income Countries
Most people are very poor; primarily agrarian societies
Per capita income of less than $2,500 annually
Represents 35% of the world’s land, but 50% of its people
Barely 25% live in cities; most live in villages and farm as their family has for many generations
Staunchly traditional; follow the folkways of their ancestors
No industrial technology
Much of central and eastern Africa, much of Asia

6. Global Poverty Severity of poverty global income
poverty in poor countries is more severe than it is in rich nations like the US in part because economic productivity is lowest in regions of the largest population growth
global income
High income countries earn 79% (18% of population)
Middle income countries earn 20% (70% of population)
Low income countries earn 1% (12% of population)

7. Global Poverty Relative Poverty Absolute Poverty
The lack of resources by some people that are taken for granted by others
Rich societies tend to focus on this type of poverty
A lack of resources that is life-threatening
1/3 or more of people living in low income countries experience absolute poverty
Median death age can be an indicator of absolute poverty.

8. Global Poverty
Child mortality rate