Now that you are an expert geographer, it's time for you to challenge yourself. Use your new research skills to explore development in various countries:
Exploration 1: Human Development Indices World Map
Directions for Human Development Indices World Map- View the: Human Development Indices World Map
- Click on the year 1980 and notice that North America, Europe, and Australia had the highest HDI in 1980.
- Click on the subsequent years (1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2007) and notice which countries or regions had increases in HDI.
- Describe the global trends that have occurred in regard to the increase in the human development index (HDI). Which places had increases? Make a hypothesis (an educated guess) about why you think some countries experienced an increase in their human development during the past 30 years.
Exploration 2: What Does Freedom Have to do with LOD?
Directions for What does Freedom Have to do with LOD?- Look at the data in the chart below and examine the relationship between civil liberties (freedoms that people have) and the GDP per capita.
- Think about the following questions:
- Do the countries with the highest levels of freedom (score of 1) have high or low GDP?
- Do the countries that have the lowest levels of freedom (scores of 6 and 7) have high or low GDP?
- In your Taking Notes, describe how freedom is related to a nation's level of development. Write a few sentences about what you think could be done to help improve the economic conditions of poorer countries in the world.
Data Sources: Freedom House, CIA World Factbook