Core 1: Part 1 Population and economic development patterns

Part 1: IB outcome: Physical and human factors affecting population distribution at the global scale

Quick discussion on Semuels article above.

Discussion:

  • Why does population vary between places?
  • What is Population Distribution?
  • What is Population Density?
  • Why are more people now living in cities rather than rural areas?
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of a choropleth map?
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of a dot map?
  • Which type of map is commonly used for population distribution? Which one for population density?
1. Population and economic development patterns

Exercise:

Based on the maps shown earlier:

  • Identify some of the areas that are sparsely populated
  • Identify some of the areas that are densely populated
  • Why do you think some areas are more densely populated than the others?

For each factor, give examples of how they affect population distribution and density, both high and low

Physical factors:

    • Relief
    • Resource
    • Climate
    • Vegetation
    • Disease and pest
    • Soils
    • Water supply
    • Communication

Human Factors:

    • Political
    • Social
    • Economic
    • Level of technology

Using examples, discuss the impacts of high and low population density

Global patterns and classification of economic development:

For the remainder of the course we will be using these terms to describe, compare and contrast countries' economic development level:

  • low-income countries
  • middle-income countries and emerging economies
  • high-income countries

Economic Acronym Game

Quickly review all terms in Nagle and Cooke p. 390-1 Case Study box

Part 2: IB outcome: Population distribution and economic development at the national scale, including voluntary internal migration, core-periphery patterns and megacity growth

  • You will need two detailed and contrasting examples of uneven population distribution

Core Periphery Model: “The growing interdependence of countries worldwide through the increasing volume and variety of cross-border transactions in goods and services and of international capital flows, and through the more rapid and widespread diffusion of technology” (source: IMF).

  • How can air traffic be used to identify global core, periphery and semi periphery?
  • What other factors could be used to global core, periphery and semi periphery?

Exercise: Do Activity 1 in Nagle and Cooke, p. 392

This will be your first case study for this unit. If you want, you may also answer these questions about Japan, using the Semuels, 2017 Article

Make sure you have a file or document where you will keep all the case studies for this course.

Here is a template, but it is incomplete. Make a copy and ensure to update it regularly.

Your second case study will be Canada. In groups, you will research and describe the population distribution of one region, including physical and social factors, specific examples, historical evidence, and statistics. You will present your findings to the class and share a one page factsheet. (Each of you should hyperlink them in your CS doc and here)

  1. The Northern Territories
  2. The prairies and BC
  3. Quebec and Ontario
  4. The Maritimes

Discussions:

  • What are the most important influences on where people live in Canada and China?
  • What are Canada and China's core and peripheries?
  • Are China and Canada global cores?
  • How do these impact the spatial interactions within each country? (pros and cons)
  • How do these impact the spatial interactions wit their neighboring countries? (pros and cons)