REGIONAL INTEGRATION - Weebly
Transcript of REGIONAL INTEGRATION - Weebly
REGIONAL INTEGRATION
Lesson 1
Introduction to Regional Integration
Form 4
Teacher: Ann Samm-Regis
Modules in Social Studies:
Read pages 236-241, 393, 401-403
Objectives:
1. Define Caribbean region, regional integration
2. Common characteristics of the Caribbean region
3. Define MNC, developed country, underdeveloped country,
developing country
4. Advantages and disadvantages of MNCs
CARIBBEAN: relating to the region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands and the surrounding coasts
REGION: an area of a country or the world having definable
characteristics but not always fixed boundaries
INTEGRATION: combining parts of something so that they
work together as a whole.
REGIONAL INTEGRATION:
1. Caribbean states working together to achieve certain
economic objectives which would make the region better off.
2. The unification of Caribbean states through economic
agreements which promote free trade between them by the
removal of barriers to trade. (CSS for CSEC, pg. 206)
3. Countries, organisations and individuals working together to
develop the region politically, economically and socially.
(SS for CSEC Examinations, pg. 225)
Characteristics of the Caribbean region
1. LIMITED MINERAL
RESOURCES
Minerals (T&T has oil, natural gas,
asphalt, limestone and gypsum.
Jamaica has bauxite, gypsum,
limestone. Haiti has bauxite,
Barbados has oil and limestone.
Guyana has bauxite, gold, diamonds)
2. AGRICULTURE-BASED
ECONOMIES
Tropical climate: suitable for
agriculture
Fertile soils: sugar, bananas,
arrowroot, ground provisions
Vulnerable, seasonal
3. DEPENDENCE ON TOURISM
• Warm tropical climate: sunny and
breezy
• Historical sites
• Rich culture (ethnic diversity –
multicultural society)
• Scenic beauty and biodiversity of
flora and fauna: eco-tourism
(nature trails, bird watching, mud
volcanoes etc)
• Vulnerability of tourism industry
e.g. H1N1 outbreak in Barbados
can cause major losses in the
hotel industry
• World recession can cripple
tourist industry
Characteristics of the Caribbean region
4. VARIED ETHNIC
COMPOSITION
• Multicultural (colonialism, slavery,
indentureship, etc)
• Rich and unique culture
5. COMMON HISTORY AND
HERITAGE - Members of the British
Commonwealth. Government, legal
system, language, education system,
social institutions, all modelled on
British way of life
6. PRONE TO NATURAL
DISASTERS: e.g. hurricanes , floods
and earthquakes which destroy
property and cause economic
setbacks (Grenada)
7. SMALL POPULATION SIZE,
SMALL PHYSICAL SIZE
- Small domestic markets limits
possibility of economies of scale
- Distance between the islands and
inefficient inter-island transport
hinders trade, increases transport costs,
increases costs of production
8. BRAIN DRAIN
• Skilled and educated people leave
and migrate to developed countries
in search of more attractive jobs
and a higher standard of living
9. SHORTAGE OF CAPITAL FOR
INVESTMENT (debt burden due to
loan repayments)
Their small physical size, small
population size, limited resources,
underdevelopment etc. has led Caribbean
countries to attempt to unite and
cooperate for their common good.
DEVELOPED COUNTRY
➢ very industrialized nations
➢ high per capita income
➢ high standard of living
➢ access to more goods and
services than people in
developing countries.
e.g. Canada, Japan, the UK,
the USA
DEVELOPING (THIRD-WORLD)
COUNTRY
➢ lower per capita income
➢ lower standard of living
➢ access to fewer goods and services than people in developed countries
e.g. Caribbean and Latin America (Central and South America)
UNDERDEVELOPED
COUNTRY
➢ lacks industrialization
➢ lacks infrastructure
➢ lacks developed agriculture
➢ undeveloped natural
resources
➢ low per capita income
e.g. Parts of Africa, Haiti,
Parts of Asia
Multinational Corporations (MNCs), are very large businesses that
have offices and factories in several different countries.
• Headquarters in developed countries (e.g. USA, Japan, Europe)
• Subsidiaries in developing countries where labour is cheap and
production costs are low. (e.g. Asia, India)
Very large multinationals have budgets that exceed those of many
small countries.
Facts about MNCs• Some of the largest MNCs make more money in a year than all of the
African countries put together.
• The world’s 500 largest companies now control at least 70% of world
trade and produce more than half of the world’s manufactured goods.
• Being so large, they also influence consumer tastes and lifestyles and
are responsible for many of today’s scientific and technological
breakthroughs.
• Many people are concerned about the effects of multinationals. They
argue that they locate in poorer countries just to make a profit, and pay
low wages, particularly to women and young children.
• Others say that without multinationals the poorer countries would not
be able to develop their own industries.
• MNCs and TNCs have always been able to take advantage of Caribbean
countries by playing us against each other.
Advantages and Disadvantages associated with MNCs
ADVANTAGES
1. Provide employment
2. Provide training
3. Provide money for industrial
projects
4. Help develop mineral
wealth
5. Improve roads, airports and
services
6. Provide technology and
knowhow
7. Provide trade links with
other countries
DISADVANTAGES
1. Local labour usually
poorly paid
2. Employs few skilled
workers
3. Most profits go overseas
4. Exports raw materials (no
value added)
5. Companies may leave at
any time
6. Rarely consider the needs
of the country
Next class:
Part 2 of Introduction to Regional Integration -Globalisation