Now that you are an expert geographer, it's time for you to challenge yourself. Use your new research skills to explore development in various countries:

Exploration 1: Human Development Indices World Map

Directions for Human Development Indices World Map

• View the: Human Development Indices World Map
• Click on the year 1980 and notice that North America, Europe, and Australia had the highest HDI in 1980.
• Click on the subsequent years (1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2007) and notice which countries or regions had increases in HDI.
• In your notes, describe the global trends that have occurred in regard to the increase in the human development index (HDI). Which places had increases? Make a hypothesis (an educated guess) about why you think some countries experienced an increase in their human development during the past 30 years.

Exploration 2: What Does Freedom Have to do with LOD?

Directions for What does Freedom Have to do with LOD?

• Look at the data in the chart below and examine the relationship between civil liberties (freedoms that people have) and the GDP per capita.
• Think about the following questions:
1. Do the countries with the highest levels of freedom (score of 1) have high or low GDP?
2. Do the countries that have the lowest levels of freedom (scores of 6 and 7) have high or low GDP?
• In your notes, describe how freedom is related to a nation's level of development. Write a few sentences about what you think could be done to help improve the economic conditions of poorer countries in the world.

The civil liberties ranking is based upon freedom of expression, the right to assemble, equal protection under the law, and individual rights. A score of 1 represents the highest level of freedom and 7 the lowest level of freedom.

Data Sources: Freedom House, CIA World Factbook