Origin of Disparities
Explain disparities and inequalities that occur within countries resulting from ethnicity, residence, parental education, income, employment (formal and informal) and land ownership.
Residence
Where you live can be very important in determining your wealth. This might mean your residence of birth e.g. Japan or Afghanistan. If you are born in Japan you are much more likely to be free from conflict, receive an education, enjoy a good diet, have a roof over your house, get a job and live comfortably. However, it might also mean your personal residence (your house). If you live in a solid house that protects you from the weather and if you have a water and electricity supplies then you are more likely to remain fit and healthy, be able to work and be relatively well-off. However, if you live in an informal settlement e.g. a favela in Rio, then you are unlikely to have a reliable electricity supply, or running water, or an inside toilet with sewers, or rubbish collections, or a secure structure or even legal ownership of the land or house. Therefore, you are more likely to suffer from ill health, be affected by natural disasters and risk eviction at any time. If this is the case you are more unlikely to be able to work, be able to secure loans and increase your wealth.
Ethnicity/ Religion
Some ethnic or religious groups can become marginalized and struggle to escape from poverty. This might be because the political leaders are from a certain ethnic group or tribe and they favour people from that group. Alternatively it might be immigrant groups are discriminated against and only be able to work in the informal economy or be exploited.
Parental Education
If your parents are educated it is more likely to mean that they have a good job and can afford all of life's needs (housing, food, etc.). If your parents are employed it is also more likely that they can afford to send you to school giving you a head start in life.
Land ownership (tenure)
Private ownership of land is an important factor in allowing people to grow food and generate income. If you have land you can at a minimum live a subsistence lifestyle, but more likely be able to sell surpluses or secure a loan against the value of land. Sometimes females may struggle to avoid poverty because they are unable to inherit or own land.
Sex
In many societies males are still favored over females in terms of education, ownership and employment. In some countries like Saudi Arabia females are not able to drive themselves and many believe should not even be allowed to work with men. If you are unable to work you become dependent and are unable to increase your personal wealth. Fortunately the emancipation of females is becoming more widespread around the world.
Employment
If a country has high unemployment and or high underemployment then the country is more likely to suffer from poverty. Also if a country has a large informal economy it might suffer from poverty because workers are exploited and don't receive any benefits if they are hurt and unable to work.
Income
If a country or individual already has a good income or wealth it is easier to generate more wealth. Individuals can not only ensure that they have a good residence and a healthy diet, they can also borrow money more easily to invest. Some organizations like the Grammen Bank in Bangladesh are trying to improve micro-credit for poor people so that they can start investing in their businesses and growing their wealth - although not everyone agrees it is the best solution (see article below).
Personal education
Again if you have been educated you are more likely to get a job, stay healthy and become wealthier. In summary people who are educated are likely to see their income and wealth rise, while people who are illiterate won't be able to find a job or only find a poorly paid job.
Diet
If people are undernourished or suffer malnutrition they are more likely to become weak and sick. If they are sick and there is no government welfare then they are unable to earn money and becoming poorer. Many LEDCs, especially in areas like the Sahel (south of the Sahara) see large scale undernourishment (famine) and poverty. The elimination of hunger and poverty are both Millennium Development Goals.
Water Supply
If a region is rich in water then not only can they increase agricultural output and support industry, but it can also support a large population increasing the wealth of the area. However, if an area is very arid (desert environment) or only has polluted water available then a region will find it hard to create investment and growth. If a region is also regularly suffering from drought conditions it is more likely that its population is suffering from famine and dehydration and therefore less able to work.
Resources/Raw Materials
If a country is resource rich then they are able to earn money through exports. The Gulf countries of Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Kuwait are good examples that have managed rapid economic growth because of their natural resources (oil and gas). Other countries like Syria and Jordan who have fewer resources find it hard to develop.
Physical Geography
Some countries remain poor because of a shortage of natural resources, unfavorable climatic conditions (too hot/cold), mountainous land or because they are landlocked. Landlocked countries like Rwanda, Mongolia and Niger find it harder to trade because any imports or exports have to travel through a different country who may charge them duties.
Transportation
Areas or countries with good transport links (roads, railways and airports) are usually able to enjoy economic growth because they are interconnected with other regions and are able to trade. Physical conditions like mountains or natural disasters can make transport hard. China is trying to promote economic development in its regions by building new railways, roads and airports. China recently opened a railway to Lhasa (the capital of Tibet). China claims this is to help development although others might argue that it is to increase control.
Communication
Countries with very fast internet connectivity like South Korea find it very easy to communicate with the rest of the world. This allows them to understand and enjoy the benefits that globalization bring, hopefully making them more wealthy. However, other regions have no internet and no mobile phone coverage making trade with the outside world much harder and therefore limiting their ability to develop. The BBC conducted an interesting experiment when it removed the internet from some South Korean families and then gave it to a Nigerian village to see what affects it would have - two short commentaries below tell the story.
Energy Supply
For industry to be successful it needs a reliable energy supply. Therefore countries with national grids covering the entire country can enjoy more even growth. However, regions that don't have power e.g. Mongolian steppes will find growth and development much harder.
Colonization
Many countries feel that colonization has slowed their current development. Colonization may have hampered current growth because there resources and workers were exploited (or even killed), large debts to the former colonial powers were created, they were unable to create their own administrative systems, locals remained uneducated and unskilled as jobs went to the colonial powers and they lack behind in the development of democratic systems. There are currently many African countries in this situation like DR of Congo, Ethiopia and Burundi.
Exploitation
Some regions and countries that are rich in resources are often exploited by TNCs or other countries. One such region is the Niger Delta in Nigeria which is rich in oil. Locals argue that through a combination of government corruption and TNC exploitation they have seen no economic development despite the wealth of the area. In fact many locals say that they have economic decline because of environmental damage caused by the extraction of oil.
Residence
Where you live can be very important in determining your wealth. This might mean your residence of birth e.g. Japan or Afghanistan. If you are born in Japan you are much more likely to be free from conflict, receive an education, enjoy a good diet, have a roof over your house, get a job and live comfortably. However, it might also mean your personal residence (your house). If you live in a solid house that protects you from the weather and if you have a water and electricity supplies then you are more likely to remain fit and healthy, be able to work and be relatively well-off. However, if you live in an informal settlement e.g. a favela in Rio, then you are unlikely to have a reliable electricity supply, or running water, or an inside toilet with sewers, or rubbish collections, or a secure structure or even legal ownership of the land or house. Therefore, you are more likely to suffer from ill health, be affected by natural disasters and risk eviction at any time. If this is the case you are more unlikely to be able to work, be able to secure loans and increase your wealth.
Ethnicity/ Religion
Some ethnic or religious groups can become marginalized and struggle to escape from poverty. This might be because the political leaders are from a certain ethnic group or tribe and they favour people from that group. Alternatively it might be immigrant groups are discriminated against and only be able to work in the informal economy or be exploited.
Parental Education
If your parents are educated it is more likely to mean that they have a good job and can afford all of life's needs (housing, food, etc.). If your parents are employed it is also more likely that they can afford to send you to school giving you a head start in life.
Land ownership (tenure)
Private ownership of land is an important factor in allowing people to grow food and generate income. If you have land you can at a minimum live a subsistence lifestyle, but more likely be able to sell surpluses or secure a loan against the value of land. Sometimes females may struggle to avoid poverty because they are unable to inherit or own land.
Sex
In many societies males are still favored over females in terms of education, ownership and employment. In some countries like Saudi Arabia females are not able to drive themselves and many believe should not even be allowed to work with men. If you are unable to work you become dependent and are unable to increase your personal wealth. Fortunately the emancipation of females is becoming more widespread around the world.
Employment
If a country has high unemployment and or high underemployment then the country is more likely to suffer from poverty. Also if a country has a large informal economy it might suffer from poverty because workers are exploited and don't receive any benefits if they are hurt and unable to work.
Income
If a country or individual already has a good income or wealth it is easier to generate more wealth. Individuals can not only ensure that they have a good residence and a healthy diet, they can also borrow money more easily to invest. Some organizations like the Grammen Bank in Bangladesh are trying to improve micro-credit for poor people so that they can start investing in their businesses and growing their wealth - although not everyone agrees it is the best solution (see article below).
Personal education
Again if you have been educated you are more likely to get a job, stay healthy and become wealthier. In summary people who are educated are likely to see their income and wealth rise, while people who are illiterate won't be able to find a job or only find a poorly paid job.
Diet
If people are undernourished or suffer malnutrition they are more likely to become weak and sick. If they are sick and there is no government welfare then they are unable to earn money and becoming poorer. Many LEDCs, especially in areas like the Sahel (south of the Sahara) see large scale undernourishment (famine) and poverty. The elimination of hunger and poverty are both Millennium Development Goals.
Water Supply
If a region is rich in water then not only can they increase agricultural output and support industry, but it can also support a large population increasing the wealth of the area. However, if an area is very arid (desert environment) or only has polluted water available then a region will find it hard to create investment and growth. If a region is also regularly suffering from drought conditions it is more likely that its population is suffering from famine and dehydration and therefore less able to work.
Resources/Raw Materials
If a country is resource rich then they are able to earn money through exports. The Gulf countries of Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Kuwait are good examples that have managed rapid economic growth because of their natural resources (oil and gas). Other countries like Syria and Jordan who have fewer resources find it hard to develop.
Physical Geography
Some countries remain poor because of a shortage of natural resources, unfavorable climatic conditions (too hot/cold), mountainous land or because they are landlocked. Landlocked countries like Rwanda, Mongolia and Niger find it harder to trade because any imports or exports have to travel through a different country who may charge them duties.
Transportation
Areas or countries with good transport links (roads, railways and airports) are usually able to enjoy economic growth because they are interconnected with other regions and are able to trade. Physical conditions like mountains or natural disasters can make transport hard. China is trying to promote economic development in its regions by building new railways, roads and airports. China recently opened a railway to Lhasa (the capital of Tibet). China claims this is to help development although others might argue that it is to increase control.
Communication
Countries with very fast internet connectivity like South Korea find it very easy to communicate with the rest of the world. This allows them to understand and enjoy the benefits that globalization bring, hopefully making them more wealthy. However, other regions have no internet and no mobile phone coverage making trade with the outside world much harder and therefore limiting their ability to develop. The BBC conducted an interesting experiment when it removed the internet from some South Korean families and then gave it to a Nigerian village to see what affects it would have - two short commentaries below tell the story.
Energy Supply
For industry to be successful it needs a reliable energy supply. Therefore countries with national grids covering the entire country can enjoy more even growth. However, regions that don't have power e.g. Mongolian steppes will find growth and development much harder.
Colonization
Many countries feel that colonization has slowed their current development. Colonization may have hampered current growth because there resources and workers were exploited (or even killed), large debts to the former colonial powers were created, they were unable to create their own administrative systems, locals remained uneducated and unskilled as jobs went to the colonial powers and they lack behind in the development of democratic systems. There are currently many African countries in this situation like DR of Congo, Ethiopia and Burundi.
Exploitation
Some regions and countries that are rich in resources are often exploited by TNCs or other countries. One such region is the Niger Delta in Nigeria which is rich in oil. Locals argue that through a combination of government corruption and TNC exploitation they have seen no economic development despite the wealth of the area. In fact many locals say that they have economic decline because of environmental damage caused by the extraction of oil.