The use of a resource depends on a nation’s Non-proximity of economic activity culture, values, access to technology, and and natural resources governmental priorities as they change over limited natural – time resources; major manufacturing region Social and economic priorities that United Arab Emirates oil; – influence a culture’s perspective on lack of industry resources Economic development priorities Technologies that have created a demand (China values economic for particular resources development over saving the Steam engine demand for coal – environment) Internal combustion engine – Environmental conservation petroleum priorities Computer demand for skilled – Priorities of indigenous minorities labor Indicators of Economic Development Differences between developed and ratio developed – developing nations countries have more people living in Access to natural resources cities Access to capital resources Labor force characteristics in – Numbers and skills of human developing countries more people resources work in primary and secondary Levels of economic development activity Standards of living and quality of life GDP per capita developed – Relationship between economic countries have a high GDP development and quality of life Educational achievement Comparative Advantage Indicators of Standards of Living Comparative advantage: countries Population growth rate developing will export goods and services that – countries have a higher growth rate they can produce at lower relative Population age distribution – costs than other countries developing countries have younger Specialization of goods and services populations that a country can market for a profit Literacy rate (who can read and write) Some Countries’ Use of Resources Life expectancy Japan Highly industrialized nation – Infant mortality despite limited natural resources Percentage of population Russia Numerous resources many – of which are not economically profitable to develop United States Diversified economy, – abundant natural resources, specialized industries Cote D’Ivoire Limited natural – resources, cash crops in exchange for manufactured goods Switzerland Limited natural – resources
The use of a resource depends on a nation’s culture, values, access to technology, and governmental priorities as they change over time Social and economic priorities that influence a culture’s perspective on resources Economic development priorities (China values economic development over saving the environment) Environmental conservation priorities Priorities of indigenous minorities Indicators of Economic Development ratio – developed countries have more people living in cities Labor force characteristics – in developing countries more people work in primary and secondary activity GDP per capita – developed countries have a high GDP Educational achievement Indicators of Standards of Living Population growth rate – developing countries have a higher growth rate Population age distribution – developing countries have younger populations Literacy rate (who can read and write) Life expectancy Infant mortality Percentage of population Non-proximity of economic activity and natural resources – limited natural resources; major manufacturing region United Arab Emirates – oil; lack of industry Technologies that have created a demand for particular resources Steam engine – demand for coal Internal combustion engine – petroleum Computer – demand for skilled labor Differences between developed and developing nations Access to natural resources Access to capital resources Numbers and skills of human resources Levels of economic development Standards of living and quality of life Relationship between economic development and quality of life Comparative Advantage Comparative advantage: countries will export goods and services that they can produce at lower relative costs than other countries Specialization of goods and services that a country can market for a profit Some Countries’ Use of Resources Japan – Highly industrialized nation despite limited natural resources Russia – Numerous resources many of which are not economically profitable to develop United States – Diversified economy, abundant natural resources, specialized industries Cote D’Ivoire – Limited natural resources, cash crops in exchange for manufactured goods Switzerland – Limited natural resources
rv_geo_unitIV.docx