The Development Gap

The development gap refers to the growing difference in levels of development between the world's richest and poorest countries. In this lesson you will explore the causes of inequality between countries, why some countries remain trapped in poverty, and the physical, economic, and historical factors that create and maintain the development gap.

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What Is the Development Gap?

The development gap is the difference in wealth, health, and quality of life between the most developed countries (HICs) and the least developed countries (LICs). This gap exists at multiple scales:

• Global scale — between rich nations (e.g., UK, USA) and poor nations (e.g., Chad, Malawi)
• Regional scale — between regions within a country (e.g., south-east England vs north-east England)
• Local scale — between neighbourhoods within a city (e.g., wealthy suburbs vs inner-city deprivation)

Exam Tip: AQA may ask you to explain the development gap at different scales. Always be ready to give examples at the global, national, and local level.

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Causes of the Development Gap