Category: International Development

Should developing economies prioritise environmental sustainability over economic growth?

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Rehan (Year 12) Editor's note: Rehan, now in Year 13, wrote this essay in year 12. Developing economies face a critical choice between prioritizing environmental sustainability and pursuing economic growth, with climate change posing an urgent global threat that demands economic transformation. CPD Currently, the greatest threat to developing economies is climate change, and it … Continue reading Should developing economies prioritise environmental sustainability over economic growth?

Which aspects of physical geography have the strongest effects on the economic growth and/or output of a country?

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Reuben (Year 9) Editor's note: Now in Year 10, Reuben carefully researched and wrote this interesting essay on the role that physical geography plays in shaping the economy. Geography, including natural resources and access to water, plays a crucial role in shaping a country's economic growth and output by influencing its ability to export and … Continue reading Which aspects of physical geography have the strongest effects on the economic growth and/or output of a country?

Has the Demographic Timebomb already been Detonated?

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Hannah (Year 12) Editor's note: Hannah wrote this essay during her time in Year 12 at GSAL. It was submitted for peer review at Routes: The Journal for Student Geographers. Hannah is now studying Geography at the University of Durham. CPD The ‘demographic timebomb’ is often used to refer to the crisis that many countries … Continue reading Has the Demographic Timebomb already been Detonated?

‘Millions in Africa are poorer today because of aid; misery and poverty have not ended but increased’ (DAMBISA MOYO). What do you think?

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Hannah (Year 12) Editor's note: Hannah wrote this essay during her time in Year 12 at GSAL. It was entered into the annual Minds Underground Essay Competition. Hannah is now studying Geography at the University of Durham. CPD Dambisa Moyo argues in her book ‘Dead Aid’ (Moyo, 2010), that foreign aid has failed to promote … Continue reading ‘Millions in Africa are poorer today because of aid; misery and poverty have not ended but increased’ (DAMBISA MOYO). What do you think?

What are the drivers of the global moves away from free trade and how should the UK respond?

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Tehan (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 12 student Tehan, now in Year 13, wrote this essay for submission to the FCDO Next Generation Economics 2025 competition. They chose to answer the question: While free trade has been the dominant view in the last decades, protectionist policies are on the rise. What are the drivers of … Continue reading What are the drivers of the global moves away from free trade and how should the UK respond?

Does free trade actually benefit economies of developing nations?

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Rahul (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 12 student Rahul, now in Year 13, wrote this essay on free trade - little did he know how relevant it would be at the time of publication in May 2025, with Trump's tariffs and global trade arguably at a crossroads! CPD The impact of free trade on developing … Continue reading Does free trade actually benefit economies of developing nations?

What is globalisation and is it widening the gap between rich and poor countries?

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Naomi (Year 9 Student) Editor’s note: This excellent essay was submitted to the annual Perse Aristotelian Award Essay Competition. CPD “It has been said that arguing against globalisation is like arguing against the laws of gravity” Kofi Anann Introduction What type of challenge are we confronting? The combined wealth of the eight richest individuals is equivalent to the … Continue reading What is globalisation and is it widening the gap between rich and poor countries?