Geography
Revision Booklet
Economic
Development
What do I need to know?
This unit will account for 33.3% (!) of your final exam. You must answer a question on
this unit and they are likely to mix it up e.g. ask some rivers questions and some coastal
questions. Remember, the last 12 marks will be a case study (9 for the case study, with
a further 3 for SPG) so you must make sure that you know them inside out. However,
case studies alone will not get you the marks. You must revise all of the key learning
objectives (ideas) that we have covered. You will need to know definitions for all of the key
words plus all of the issues that we have studied. There are no short cuts in this exam –
if you learn it inside out then you will succeed 
So – Where to start?!
Like in the other two revision booklets, the key title and LA are written below. Make
sure that you know the content from each of these lessons!
1. ‘Development - Quality of Life’- To understand some of the ways in which development
can be measured
2. Measuring Development.’ - To examine the advantages and disadvantages of using
economic and social indicators to measure development.
3. Identifying Development – The Brandt Line.’- To find out what the Brandt Line is and
examine how valid it is as a way of mapping development.
4. ‘Aid and Development.’ - To understand what the different types of aid are and how aid
can affect the development of a country.
5. ‘Sustainable Aid?’ Case Study: Water Aid in Mali, Western Africa - To understand
how Water Aid is helping Mali to develop.
6. ‘Employment Structures.’- To understand how Employment can be categorised. This can
be used to indicate the development of a country.
7. ‘Variations in Employment Structures.’- To identify how employment structures vary
between LEDCs, NIC’s and MEDC’s.
8. Triangular Graphs.’- To understand what factors influence decisions about where
primary, secondary, tertiary and economic activities are located.
9. ‘The Location of Economic Activity in a LEDC (also the location of primary economic)
Case Study: The Flower Industry, Kenya, Africa
10. The Location of Economic Activity in an MEDC Tertiary industry - Case Study:
Meadowhall, South Yorkshire, England
11. ‘Multi-National Companies.’- To understand what a MNC is and the reasons for
globalisation.
12. ‘MNC’s, Employment Opportunities, Economic Development and the Environment.’- To
understand the positives and negatives that MNC’s have in terms of economic
development, employment opportunities and effects on the environment.
13. Case Study: Nike– an MNC.’- To examine how and why Nike have invested in both a
specific area and also in an international context.
14. Economic Activity and the Physical Environment.’ – To examine the impacts of P, S, T
and Q economic activities on the physical environment.
15. ‘Development V Environmental damage.’ To examine the conflicts between the need for
development and environmental damage in the Pearl River Delta, China. Case Study:
Pearl River Delta, China, Asia. – to find out how people are affected by droughts
16. Global Climate Change: Causes Effects and Solutions. ’ To understand the causes
effects and solutions of global climate change.
Use Red, Amber, Green to show your current understanding
LA
Development - Quality
of Life
Measuring
Development.’
Identifying
Development
Aid and Development
Sustainable Aid?
Employment
Structures
Variations in
Employment
Structures
Triangular Graphs
The Location of
Economic Activity in a
LEDC - Case Study:
The Flower Industry,
Kenya, Africa
The Location of
Economic Activity in
an MEDC - Case
Study: Meadowhall,
South Yorkshire,
England
Multi-National
Companies
MNC’s, Employment
Opportunities,
Economic
Development and the
Environment
Case Study: Nike–
an MNC
Economic Activity and
the Physical
Environment
Development V
Environmental
damage - . Case
Study: Pearl River
Delta, China, Asia
Global Climate
Change: Causes
Effects and Solutions.
Very Well
Okay
Not Very Well
Case Studies 
Remember – there are no short cuts – you just need to learn them! And yes, I have
said it all before!!!!
In this unit there are 5 case studies to learn. It is really important that you remember that all
schools in the country can use whatever case study title they wish. This means that the
exam paper will NOT say e.g. ‘For the China case study you looked at.’ It will just give you
an idea and suggestion. However, as I know the key phrases that they will use, the next bit
is easy!
The exam paper will say something like the bits in ‘’, next to it I have put what the case
study title is in bold!
•
‘A case study of an Aid project.’ Case Study: Water Aid- Mali, Africa;
•
‘A case study which illustrates the factors that affect the location of different types of
economic activity in an LEDC country.’ or a primary industry/economic activity. Case
Study: The Flower Industry, Kenya, Africa
•
‘A case study which illustrates the factors that affect the location of different types of
economic activity in an MEDC country.’ or a tertiary industry/economic activity. Case
Study: Meadowhall, South Yorkshire, England
•
‘A case study of MNC investment in an international context.’ Case Study: Nike,
Vietnam, SE Asia.
•
‘A case study of a specific development where conflict exists between economic
development and environmental damage.’ Case Study: Pearl River Delta, China,
Asia
Outlined below is the core information that you need to know about each case
study. However, on its own this is not enough; you need to learn it in detail
from your book!
1. Case Study: Water Aid, Mail Africa
If you chose Goat Aid or Computer Aid you will need to use your own notes
Location
• You will need to be able to draw a simple locational map
Fact File
• Mali is in central/western Africa located just south of the tropic of cancer
• Mali is one of the world’s poorest nations
• Population of 12 million
• Rainfall is low in this region
Why does Mali need ‘Water Aid?’
• Only 50 % of the population have access to clean water
• Very low rainfall – means desertification will spread
• 65% of the country is already desert or semi- desert
• Water supply in Mali is privatised meaning they fail to provide water to the poorest
urban areas and the rural areas
What does Water Aid do?
• Water Aid is a ‘NGO’ a Non-Government Organisation
• They have success in providing Appropriate Technology for the poorest
communities.
• They involve local people in decision making
• They aim to find Sustainable solutions for the community
• Water Aid has been working in Mali since 2000
What has Water Aid contributed to Mali?
• It is running a scheme in the slum area od Bamako (the slum district of Mali’s capital)
providing water to this very poor area to highlight that by providing clean water to
such an area of poverty can have both social and economic benefits.
• Water Aid had financed the construction of the area’s water network
• Water Aid trains local people to manage and maintain the system
• Water Aid educates the community in water management
• Encouraging the community to invest in its own infrastructure is an important part of
‘Water Aid’s’ philosophy
• Better access to clean safe water has improved the health of the community – this in
turn promotes development
• The number of deaths caused by water borne diseases have fallen
Long term benefits
• Communities are able to plan ahead
• As less people are ill more people can attend work and school
• Time that used to be used collecting water can be used productively
• The economy can grow and develop
• This is SUSTAINABLE economically socially and environmentally.
2. Case Study: The Flower Industry, Kenya, Africa
3. Case Study: Meadowhall, South Yorkshire, England.
Refer to your Economic Development book and your case study in ‘Population.’
4. Case Study: A Multi-National company (MNC/TNC): Nike, Vietnam, SE Asia.
Nike - Fact File
• Headquarters are in Oregon, USA
• Has 650,000 contract workers worldwide in 700 factories
• More than 75% of the workforce is based in Asia
• The majority of the workers are woman aged 25 or under
• It as 34 plants in Vietnam
When was Nike founded?
• 1972
What products does it sell?
• Trainers
• Jogging bottoms
• Sweat shirts
• T-shirts
• Bags etc!
Which Asian countries does it subcontract to and why?
• South Korean and Taiwanese companies who then contract out to other Asian
countries e.g. Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia.
• This is because they are low wage economies and there is a large labour force
How many people manufacture Nike products in Asia?
• 350,000 workers (in 150 factories)
Fact File – Nike in Vietnam
• Expanded rapidly in recent years
• HQ are in Ho Chi Minh City
• 75 million pairs of shoes are made here each year (for Nike)
What are the benefits that Nike investment brings to Vietnam?
• Creates employment (economic)
• Pays higher wages than most local companies (economic)
• Improves the skills base of the local population (social, economic)
• Attracted other MNC;s to Vietnam (economic)
• The exports are a positive contribution to the balance of payments (economic)
• Sets new standards in efficient production for local companies (economic)
• Contribution to the local taxes helps pay for improvements to infrastructure
(economic, environmental, social)
What are the problems that Nike investment brings to Vietnam?
• Company image and advertising may erode local culture (social)
• Concerns about the political influence of Nike and other large MNCs ((economic,
social)
• Investment could be transferred quickly from Vietnam to other low-cost countries
(economic, social)
1. The International Context
• Buys in expertise at short notice to fulfil niche markets. Usually these are
subcontracts to its HQ’s in the USA
• Allegations of Nile using Sweatshops lead to Nike producing a report. This has been
acknowledged by the pressure group ‘Human Rights First’ in being an important step
in improving working conditions for workers in LEDC’s
•
5. Case Study: Pearl River Delta, China, Asia
Location
• Located in South East China
• Covers an area about the size of Belgium
Why is the area an advantage for business?
• River very important for both importing and exporting of materials/goods
• Good airport provision
• Near Hong Kong – a region with established successful business links
Main Challenge
The main challenge to the area is to keep growing economically whilst still looking
after the environment
What industries are found in the area?
• Car Plant (Honda)
• Major world producer of microwave ovens
• Major world producer of Christmas lights
• Major world producer of Photocopiers
• Major world producer of Light Bulbs
• Chemicals
• Running shoes
What benefits has economic development brought to the regions. Remember to note if they
are economic (employment/ financial) social or environmental.
• Economic Improvements include employment and the income people earn has a
positive multiplier effect on the local economy bringing in new shops/facilities etc.
• Social improvements – employment/higher wages means more money to spend
which improves standard of living.
What disadvantages has economic development brought to the regions. Remember to note
if they are economic (employment/ financial) social or environmental.
• Environmental – Deforestation, water pollution, 45% of rainfall in the area is acidic,
untreated/polluted water pumped into rivers
• Social – illness caused by pollution, unpleasant environment to live in
• Environmental – the mass deforestation has resulted in serious soil erosion
What is being done to try and reduce pollution in the area?
• Government pledged to reduce chemical pollution of water by 15%
• Government pledged to reduce sulphur dioxide levels by 15%
• Introduce fines for non-treatment of sewage
• Strict pollution regulations on factories
• Tougher regulations on vehicle emissions
Is it sustainable?
• These strategies are SUSTAINABLE because they aim to reduce air pollution
without closing down factories. This means people will still be able to live and work in
the Pearl Delta region.