Core: Global Change

Unit 1.1 : Changing Population- Population and Economic Development

Patterns

Ethan Part 1.1 IB SL GEO

2
 IB Geography Core Topics – Global Change

Unit 1 : Changing Population

Learning Objective 1: Population and economic development patterns

Physical and human factors affecting population distribution at the global scale

Global patterns and classification of economic development:

a. low-income countries
b. middle-income countries and emerging economies
c. high-income countries

Population distribution and economic development at the national scale, including voluntary
internal migration, core-periphery patterns and megacity growth

• a. Two detailed and contrasting examples of uneven population distribution

Definition

Population Distribution: The pattern where people live

Population density: The number of people living in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the
population of a region by its area

Factors affecting population distribution and density

3
 Factors affecting population distribution and density

1. Human Factors

a. Employment opportunities: People prefer to live in areas where they are able to work
a.
b. Transport infrastructure: People prefer to live in areas where transport is accessible as they
are able to travel and commute easily

c. Crime: High levels of crime discourage people from living in an area as they do not feel safe
b.
d. Government: Areas with high levels of conflict and corruption discourage people from living
there

2. Physical Factors

• a. Soil: Fertile soil is attractive for farming

•
• b. Land: Flat land is needed so that settlements could be built. Dense vegetation such as
forests makes it difficult to build settlements on
•
• c. Availability of resources: Resources are an important factor for economic development in
an area. Resources allow for the development of an industry, which can lead to employment
opportunities
•
• d. Climate: Temperate climate is favored for both farming and survival
•
• e. Availability of water: Water is needed for both daily life, such as washing clothes and
cooking, and farming. Access to rivers and seas provides an opportunity for travel and trade
•
• f. Natural disasters: Areas that are prone to natural disasters such as flooding can discourage
people from settling in that area

4
Global patterns and classification of economic development

Commentary

In general, there is an uneven distribution of high, middle and low income countries. Most high
income countries are found in the Northern Hemisphere such as France and Canada.

However, Chile is classified as a high income country, yet is located in the

Southern Hemisphere. On the other hand, most low income countries are found in central Africa
and Asia, within the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, such as Kenya and Nepal.

However, an anomaly is Haiti because it is the only country in Central America that is classified
as low income. Moreover, middle income countries are generally located in between the
subtropics such as India and Brazil.

5
Definition

Voluntary internal migration: It refers to the movement of a population away from their home,
from one part of the country. It occurs when people are free to move where they choose.

Megacity: A city with more than 110 million inhabitants

Core: A more developed part of a country or of the world is known as a core

Periphery: A less developed part of a country or the world is known as a periphery

Why do some cities develop into megacities?

Some cities have favourable aspects that allow them to become megacities. These aspects are
also reasons why densely populated areas exist.

Examples include: having desirable climates, access to a port for trade, flat land for buildings
and homes, fertile soil for farming, access to resources/ water, a stable government,
good infrastructure and employment opportunities.

Essentially, these advantages allow a settlement to grow as more people migrate into the area
due to the opportunities present. Eventually, the population of the city increases and it
becomes eligible to be classified as a megacity.

Moreover, worldwide population growth in general as well as an increase in life expectancy and
decrease in the death rates have also allowed megacities to form.

6
Advantages of a megacity

1. A source of innovation and entrepreneurial activity

2. Employment opportunities: the increase in the population creates a skilled workforce

that attracts transnational corporations, thus creating jobs

3. Transportation: megacities usually have good transportation routes due to where they
are sited which allows for transportation services to be developed

Disadvantages of a megacity

1. Slum development: this can occur because of housing shortages due to large numbers of
people living in the area

2. Air pollution: Megacity growth can lead to an increase of traffic congestion, which can
lead to air pollution

3. Crime: this occurs due to growing inequalities amongst people

4. Unemployment: due to the large numbers of people, finding employment would be difficult

5. Rising cost of living

6. Overcrowding

7
Case Study 1 : China

• The western part of China are mainly highlands that are not suitable for human
settlements. 94% settled in the East whereas 6% settled in the West.

• China’s population is concentrated in the eastern part of the country, especially in coastal
zones and the lower reaches of river valleys.

• Regions in the east are closer to the sea, can provide better access to international trade
such import and export by marine transport
•
Since 1978 over 160 million people have left rural areas to seek work in the cities. The
majority of the migrants are economically active, predominantly female, leaving poorer
rural communities in the inland provinces. Many migrants are regarded as floating
population and do not have official urban hukou (household registration system)
•

Case Study 2 : South Africa

• High population densities are found in areas where there are good minerals such as gold
and diamond, good farming potentials and good trading potential such as Durban and Cape
Town

• The population decreases from South-East to North-West may be due to the distribution
of rainfall in South Africa

• Forced migration related to the apartheid movement

• Voluntary migration following the collapse of the apartheid system

• Many black people moved from the countryside to cities to work as migrant labourers in
the gold and diamond mines.

• South Africa’s migration is called circular migration, when a worker moves repeatedly
between home and host areas

• Women are migrating to towns and cities to work, leaving their children in the rural area
to be cared for by grandparents

• Circular migrants usually take poorly paid and insecure jobs in the informal economy

8
 Section C Type Questions

Where relevant, answers should refer to case studies, examples, and where appropriate include well-drawn maps
or diagrams.

Question 1

“Crime rate will become a main factor for human migration.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
[10]

Question 2

“The growth of megacity around the world has contribute only positive impacts to the living environment.”.
To what extent do you agree with this statement? [10]

9
Section C Markbands
Marks Level descriptor
AO1: Knowledge and understanding of
specified content
AO2: Application and analysis of
knowledge and understanding
0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1–2 The response is too brief, lists unconnected information, is not focused on the question and lacks
structure.
• The response is very brief or descriptive,
listing a series of unconnected
comments or largely irrelevant
information. The knowledge and
understanding presented is very general
with large gaps or errors in
interpretation. Examples or case studies
are not included or only listed.
• There is no evidence of analysis.
• Terminology is missing, not defined,
irrelevant or used incorrectly.
3–4 The response is too general, lacks detail, is not focused on the question and is largely unstructured.
• The response is very general. The
knowledge and understanding presented
outlines examples, statistics, and facts
that are both relevant and irrelevant.
Links to the question are listed.
• The argument or analysis presented is
not relevant to the question.
• Basic terminology is defined and used
but with errors in understanding or used
inconsistently.
5–6 The response partially addresses the question, but with a narrow argument, an unsubstantiated
conclusion, and limited evaluation.
• The response describes relevant
supporting evidence (information,
examples, case studies et cetera),
outlining appropriate link(s) to the
question.
• The argument or analysis partially
addresses the question or elaborates
one point repeatedly.
• Relevant terminology is defined and
used with only minor errors in
understanding or is used inconsistently.
AO3: Synthesis and
evaluation
• No evidence of evaluation
or conclusion is expected
at this level.
• If appropriate to the
question, the conclusion is
irrelevant.
• There is no evidence of
critical evaluation of
evidence (examples,
statistics and case studies).
• If appropriate to the • Logically related information
question, the conclusions
are general, not aligned
with the evidence
presented and/or based on • Maps, graphs or diagrams
an incorrect interpretation
of the evidence.
• Other perspectives on
evidence (examples,
statistics and case studies)
and/or strengths and
weaknesses of evidence
are listed.
AO4: Selection, use and
application of a variety of
appropriate skills and
techniques
• Information presented is not
grouped logically (in
paragraphs or sections).
• Maps, graphs or diagrams
are not included, are
irrelevant or difficult to
decipher (only if appropriate
to the question).
• Most of the information is not
grouped logically (in
paragraphs or sections).
• Maps, graphs or diagrams
included lack detail, are
incorrectly or only partially
interpreted without explicit
connections to the question
(only if appropriate to the
question).
is grouped together (in
sections or paragraphs) but
not consistently.
included do not follow
conventions, and include
relevant and irrelevant
interpretations in the text
(only if appropriate to the
question).
10
7–8 The response addresses the whole question, the analysis is evaluated and the conclusion is relevant
but lacks balance.
• The response describes • If appropriate to the question, the • Logically related
relevant supporting evidence conclusion is relevant to the information is grouped
correctly (information, examples question, aligned with the evidence together (in sections)
and case studies) that covers all but unbalanced. consistently.
the main points of the question, • Other perspectives on evidence • Maps, graphs or
describing appropriate links to (examples, statistics and case diagrams included
the question. studies) and/or strengths and contribute to/support the
• The argument or analysis is weaknesses of evidence are argument or analysis
clear and relevant to the described. (only if appropriate to
question but one-sided or the question).
unbalanced.
• Complex terminology is defined
and used correctly but not
consistently.
9–10 The response is in-depth and question-specific (topic and command term); analysis and conclusion
are justified through well-developed evaluation of evidence and perspectives.
• The response explains correct • If appropriate to the question, the • Response is logically
and relevant examples, statistics conclusion is relevant to the structured with
and details that are integrated in question, balanced and aligned with discussion (and if
the response, explaining the the evidence. appropriate to the
appropriate link to the question. • Evaluation includes a systematic and question, a conclusion)
• The argument or analysis is detailed presentation of ideas, cause focusing on the
balanced, presenting evidence and effect relations, other argument or points
that is discussed, explaining perspectives; strengths and made, making it easy to
complexity, exceptions and weaknesses of evidence are follow.
comparisons. discussed; (if appropriate) includes • Maps, graphs or
• Complex and relevant justification of the argument and diagrams are annotated
terminology is used correctly conclusion. following conventions
throughout the response. and their relevance is
explained and support
the argument or
analysis (only if
appropriate to the
question).

11