Reading a chart: compare economies.A nation's economy has a major effect on the quality of life of its people. How does the economy of Laos Laos is a landlocked country with an inadequate infrastructure and a largely unskilled work force. The country's per capita income in 2004 was estimated to be $1,900 on a purchasing power parity-basis. compare with the economies of its neighbors in Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, region of Asia (1990 est. pop. 442,500,000), c.1,740,000 sq mi (4,506,600 sq km), bounded roughly by the Indian subcontinent on the west, China on the north, and the Pacific Ocean on the east. ? How do all of them compare with the economy of the United States The United States economy has the world's largest gross domestic product (GDP), $13.21 trillion in 2006. It is a mixed economy where corporations and other private firms make the majority of microeconomic decisions while being regulated by the government. ? This chart provides three economic indicators Economic indicators The key statistics of the economy that reveal the direction the economy is heading in; for example, the unemployment rate and the inflation rate. for the Southeast Asian countries Noun 1. Asian country - any one of the nations occupying the Asian continent Asian nation country, land, state - the territory occupied by a nation; "he returned to the land of his birth"; "he visited several European countries" and the U.S.: per capita [Latin, By the heads or polls.] A term used in the Descent and Distribution of the estate of one who dies without a will. It means to share and share alike according to the number of individuals. GDP GDP (guanosine diphosphate): see guanine. (1), unemployment rate, and economic aid received or donated. Study it, then answer the questions that follow. QUESTIONS 1. Which Southeast Asian country has the highest per capita GDP?-- 2. How much higher or lower is it from that of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. ?- 3. Laos has the highest unemployment rate shown. Which country's is second highest?-- 4. Which country's per capita GDP is a little more than one tenth that of Singapore?-- 5. From highest to lowest per capita GDP of the Asian countries, what is Laos's rank?-- 6. What is the per capita GDP of the country with the lowest rate of unemployment?-- 7. Which data are missing from the chart?-- 8. Which of the Asian countries listed is least likely to need economic aid? Why?-- 9. Which receives the most economic aid from other countries?-- 10. What might that tell you about the quality of life in that country? Explain.-- Answers: 1. Singapore ($29,700) 2. $12,100 lower ($41,800 U.S. minus $29,700 Singapore) 3. the U.S. (Laos, 5.7%; U.S., 5.1%) 4. Vietnam ($3,000 to Singapore's $29,700) 5. sixth out of seven 6. $8,300 (Thailand) 7. the economic-aid figures for Malaysia and Myanmar 8. Singapore (Its per capita GDP is much higher than that of the others.) 9. Vietnam (by far: $2.8 billion; the only one in the billions) 10. It tells you the quality of life will be lower. Explanations will vary, bur should include references to less access to education and healthcare, etc.
Country
Per Unemployment Economic
capita rate aid
GDP
Cambodia $2,100 2.5% $504 million (recipient)
Laos $1,900 5.7% $243 million (recipient)
Malaysia $10,400 3.6% NA (2)
Myanmar (Burma) $1,800 5.0% $127 million (recipient)
Singapore $29,700 3.4% NA (2)
Thailand $8,300 1.4% $72 million (recipient)
Vietnam $3,000 2.4% $2.8 billion (recipient)
United States $41,800 5.1% $6.9 billion (donor)
(1) GDP stands for gross domestic product; per capita means per person.
The amount is the value of all items produced by a country in a year,
divided by the population. It often is used as a measure of wealth.
(2) NA stands for "not available."
SOURCE: THE WORLD FACTBOOK 2005 (CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY)
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