Development: Social Causes
Geography: Cambridge International GCSE (2027 Exams), topic 8.1.6
Social Causes of Global Inequalities
The main social causes behind global inequalities relate to education and health.
Education
- Education leads to a more skilled workforce, which leads to increased production of goods and provision of services.
- This can attract trade and investment to a country.
- Educated people earn higher wages and so pay higher taxes.
- This means that the government can afford to spend more on development.
Health
- Diseases like malaria and cholera are more common in poorer countries because of poor healthcare and access to clean water.
- If people are ill, they are unable to work, and so the economy suffers as a result of poor health. Additionally, ill people may need expensive care.
- The negative economic effects of bad health can reduce the amount of money available for development.
Test yourself on Development: Social Causes
How does illness affect the economy?