Regional economic development
What are the causes and consequences of regional patterns of
economic development in India?
In India, there are huge inequalities between the richest and poorest
members of society.
Patterns include:
• In Kerala, the state government have funded public education and health
which means that there are low birth rates, high life expectancy and
relatively high quality of life.
• Kashmir has lower than average levels of income per capita. This can be
attributed to conflict in the region between India and Pakistan.
• Maharashtra and Gujarat are India’s main centres of heavy industry,
producing 39% of the country’s industrial output.
• The north-central region is poor, although West Bengal stands out for its
relatively high income levels; it is an industrial centre and is considered one
of India’s main intellectual centres.
, India also has climatic differences, ranging from arid deserts in the north-
west, tundra in the Himalayas to the north, and humid tropical regions
supporting rainforests in the south-west.
These differences also have an impact on the type of farming .
The caste system continues to affect society in terms of economic inequality
and even in terms of election of politicians (although note it has been illegal
to discriminate against others due to their caste since the 1950s).
Discrimination against girls and women is also widespread in India. The
dowry system (payment of money or goods by the family of a bride) means
that girls are a financial burden, which further promotes gender inequality.
Example: Bihar vs Maharashtra
• In 2010, the average per capita income in Bihar was £251 per year but in
Maharashtra, it was £1011. Maharashtra has initial advantages which
include fertile soil, a good climate for farming, a good water supply and a
coastline which makes trade and transport easy.
Bihar Maharashtra
80% of the population live in rural areas Has three of India’s largest cities;
Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur; part of
India’s urban core
Education is poor and the birth rate is It is a centre for banking, insurance and
high call centres.
Many people work as landless farm It has manufacturing industries, such as
labourers steel and textiles
Farms are small and produce little more Mumbai is the the centre for India’s film
than a family needs to survive industry in Bollywood
Government is more corrupt than Government jobs in the region are well
elsewhere in India paid
The consequence of inequality is protests, the growth of extremist
movements, demands for regional independence and the exclusion of ‘non-
natives’. Crime is increasing in some areas and there is widespread public
anger at political corruption as well as ways in which state policy has
favoured the rich. These forces create instability which could harm the
development process in India in the future.
What are the causes and consequences of regional patterns of
economic development in the UK?
The North-South Divide
What are the causes and consequences of regional patterns of
economic development in India?
In India, there are huge inequalities between the richest and poorest
members of society.
Patterns include:
• In Kerala, the state government have funded public education and health
which means that there are low birth rates, high life expectancy and
relatively high quality of life.
• Kashmir has lower than average levels of income per capita. This can be
attributed to conflict in the region between India and Pakistan.
• Maharashtra and Gujarat are India’s main centres of heavy industry,
producing 39% of the country’s industrial output.
• The north-central region is poor, although West Bengal stands out for its
relatively high income levels; it is an industrial centre and is considered one
of India’s main intellectual centres.
, India also has climatic differences, ranging from arid deserts in the north-
west, tundra in the Himalayas to the north, and humid tropical regions
supporting rainforests in the south-west.
These differences also have an impact on the type of farming .
The caste system continues to affect society in terms of economic inequality
and even in terms of election of politicians (although note it has been illegal
to discriminate against others due to their caste since the 1950s).
Discrimination against girls and women is also widespread in India. The
dowry system (payment of money or goods by the family of a bride) means
that girls are a financial burden, which further promotes gender inequality.
Example: Bihar vs Maharashtra
• In 2010, the average per capita income in Bihar was £251 per year but in
Maharashtra, it was £1011. Maharashtra has initial advantages which
include fertile soil, a good climate for farming, a good water supply and a
coastline which makes trade and transport easy.
Bihar Maharashtra
80% of the population live in rural areas Has three of India’s largest cities;
Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur; part of
India’s urban core
Education is poor and the birth rate is It is a centre for banking, insurance and
high call centres.
Many people work as landless farm It has manufacturing industries, such as
labourers steel and textiles
Farms are small and produce little more Mumbai is the the centre for India’s film
than a family needs to survive industry in Bollywood
Government is more corrupt than Government jobs in the region are well
elsewhere in India paid
The consequence of inequality is protests, the growth of extremist
movements, demands for regional independence and the exclusion of ‘non-
natives’. Crime is increasing in some areas and there is widespread public
anger at political corruption as well as ways in which state policy has
favoured the rich. These forces create instability which could harm the
development process in India in the future.
What are the causes and consequences of regional patterns of
economic development in the UK?
The North-South Divide
