1. Global Inequalities The North-South Gap Classifying Countries
Our Constantly Changing World

2. 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

3. According the UN Human Development Report (1996):
The richest 20% of countries controlled 70% of the global income
By 1993, they controlled 85%
The share of the poorest 20% of the world’s people had deceased from 2.3% to 1.4%
The shift towards a global world economy threatens to widen this gap

4. The North-South Gap
The 20% that owns almost 85% of the worlds wealth live almost entirely in the northern hemisphere.
The poorest 20% are located in the southern hemisphere

5. Northern Hemisphere
You Live Here
Southern Hemisphere

6. North-South Gap (cont’d)
The discrepancy 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 les of the wealth, low standard of living, and far less industrial development
See figure 2.14 on page 35

7. 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

8. Classifying Countries (cont’d)
The current system uses the following terms:
more developed countries (MDCs)
richest of industrialized nations, high quality of life, good health care, highly educated population
less developed countries (LDCs)
Little industrial development, little wealth, high population growth
least developed countries (LLDCs)
Includes 36 extremely poor countries, low income, low literacy rates, and little industry

9. 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

10. Activity 4 Please read pages 33 – 36 in your text.
Read the article titled Thresholds starting on page 36. What are thresholds? What is a sustainable society?
Complete question 9 on page 39. Copies of atlases are available on the table. Submit your map to your folders for marking.