10.5.6

Economic Inequalities

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Economic Inequalities Because of Development Aid

Some economic inequalities have arisen because of development aid.

Top-down aid

Top-down aid

  • In some states that receive substantial development aid, economic inequalities have increased while in other states economic inequalities have decreased.
  • It has been suggested that top-down aid has tended to increase economic polarisation, while bottom-up aid has done more for the poor in terms of access to basic services (safe water and proper sewage disposal), primary education and healthcare.
The Gini coefficient

The Gini coefficient

  • The Gini coefficient is a statistical measure that can be used to assess whether the distribution of income among individuals or households within an economy strays from a perfectly equal distribution.
  • A decrease in the Gini coefficient for any country indicates a move towards a more even distribution of income.

The Objectives of Superpowers

Superpowers like the USA and China often use aid as a way to extend their foreign policies and gain influence.

Superpowers

Superpowers

  • Superpowers (e.g. USA, China) are defined by great economic wealth, military strength, reliable access to resources and a dominant ideology.
  • Superpowers also need to reinforce or enhance their global status.
Tactics of superpowers

Tactics of superpowers

  • They can achieve more global status by securing strategic locations, future supplies of resources (food, energy, minerals and water) and making technological advances to maintain their global sphere of influence.
  • Aid is often used as an extension of their foreign policies to achieve the above, though often with ‘strings attached’.
Military alliances

Military alliances

  • Forming and maintaining military alliances are important aspects of this ‘benevolence’ as well as being examples of both ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ power.
  • China maintains that it does not need to, nor want to, set up military alliances.
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Tectonic Processes & Hazards

2

Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change

3

Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change

4

Globalisation

5

Option 4A: Regenerating Places

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Option 4B: Diverse Places

7

The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)

8

The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)

9

Superpowers (A2 only)

10

Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)

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Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)

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