Deck 13: The Developed Countries of the Global North

Question 1

A distinguishing feature of those developed countries with a mixed political economy is

A) a balance in the production of both "guns and butter."
B) the balance between private and state control of production.
C) their emphasis on growth over welfare.
D) a balance of industry and agriculture.
E) minimal regulation of private firms.

Answer 1

the balance between private and state control of production.

Question 2

A serious problem for the mixed economies in many countries in the Global North is

A) insufficient technological knowledge.
B) high rates of savings and investment.
C) an increasingly competitive international economic system.
D) hyperinflation.
E) All of the above

Answer 2

an increasingly competitive international economic system.

Question 3

Among the developed countries with a relatively high level of equality in income, as measured by the Gini index, is

A) Germany.
B) the United States.
C) Japan.
D) Switzerland.
E) Sweden.

Answer 3

Sweden.

Question 4

The developed countries assess their prosperity primarily in terms of

A) political stability.
B) health statistics.
C) economic growth.
D) the unemployment rate.
E) the poverty rate.

Question 5

Hyperpluralism occurs when

A) too many groups make strong demands on government.
B) certain groups have too much political power.
C) government prevents groups from exerting influence.
D) there are too few political parties.
E) interest groups are ineffective.

Question 6

During the Cold War period, the countries that emphasized détente assumed

A) that the West was superior to the Soviet bloc economically.
B) that the West was superior to the Soviet bloc militarily.
C) that both the West and the Soviet bloc had common interests in preventing a nuclear war.
D) the Soviet bloc was too fragmented to be a major threat.
E) the leaders of the Soviet bloc wanted to cooperate with the West.

Question 7

The foreign policies of major developed countries in the twentieth century might be particularly faulted for

A) failing to prevent devastating world wars.
B) greatly reducing their states' military preparedness.
C) failing to maintain a balance of power.
D) losing their states' prosperity relative to the rest of the world.
E) facilitating global population growth.

Question 8

Which of the following has NOT been a serious foreign policy concern for most of the developed countries during the past several decades?

A) Global proliferation of weapons
B) Border disputes between states in the Global North
C) International economic competition
D) Terrorism
E) Disorder in the Global South.

Question 9

Which of these dimensions isNOT included in the conceptualization of social development in Chapter 13?

A) Technological
B) Spiritual
C) Organizational
D) Attitudinal
E) Educational

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT usually a characteristic of the developed countries in the contemporary world?

A) High GDP per capita
B) Highly institutionalized political systems
C) Advanced technological infrastructure
D) Urban populations
E) High birth rate

Question 11

Singapore is especially notable for its

A) high inflation rate.
B) stringent order maintenance policies.
C) import-oriented economy.
D) high crime rate.
E) low poverty rate.

Question 12

Which would be least likely to be included in a quality of life index like the Human Development Index?

A) Education spending per capita
B) Life expectancy
C) Televisions per capita
D) Unemployment rate
E) Poverty rate

Question 13

The political disorder in the Global South particularly threatens the developed countries' goal of

A) technological development.
B) economic development.
C) security.
D) welfare distribution.
E) democratization.

Question 14

"Social market" systems among the developed countries include

A) Canada, Spain, and Sweden.
B) Canada, France, and the United States.
C) Japan, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
D) Japan, Spain, and Sweden.
E) France, Italy, and Sweden.

Question 15

Which of the following has NOT been a major domestic policy concern in most of the developed countries in recent decades?

A) Immigration
B) Hyperinflation
C) Political polarization
D) Terrorism
E) Multiculturalism

Question 16

On which measure are the European social democracies not among the highest countries in the world?

A) Highest voter turnout.
B) Highest standard of living.
C) Greatest prosperity.
D) Greatest income equality.
E) Highest citizen satisfaction.

Question 17

In the taxonomy of the world's countries in Chapter 13, the category termed the "transitional developed" countries includes most of

A) the Islamic states of the Middle East.
B) the countries of Central America.
C) the Asian NICs.
D) the countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
E) the countries of Western Europe.

Question 18

The Human Development Index is particularly meant to measure

A) the distribution of income.
B) citizen satisfaction.
C) technological sophistication.
D) attitudinal modernization.
E) quality of life.

Question 19

The strategy of privatization centers on

A) protecting individual privacy.
B) encouraging private investment.
C) using private firms to provide public goals and services.
D) reducing state regulation of the economy.
E) encouraging entrepreneurs to start new businesses.

Question 20

If you were to classify the developed countries into (at least two) subsets, what criterion or criteria would you employ? Explain why this would be a more appropriate classification than other alternatives that you do not select.

Question 21

Identify two major threats to the prosperity and stability of the developed countries. What, if anything, can those states do to reduce these threats?

Question 22

Some argue that the greatest conflicts for the developed countries in the post-Cold War period will be with other developed countries. Make a reasoned case for or against this view.