Inequalities in the supply and consumption of resources

• There are inequalities in the global distribution of resources. The balance between the supply and demand for resources affects a country's wealth and security.
• What is food security?


  When people have enough nutritious and affordable food to eat.
• What is food insecurity?

  When people do not have enough nutritious and affordable food to eat.
• What does the development of a country mean for food security?

  Wealthier countries import food and subsidise farming to make food more affordable. This creates a food surplus and there is plenty to go around. Poorer countries have a food deficit. They struggle to grow enough to feed people and cannot afford to subsidise farming or import more food.
• There is a fixed amount of water on the planet
• • Higher rainfall leads to more water. Some places can have too much rainfall, which leads to flooding.
  • Higher temperatures cause evaporation. If water evaporates, then less is available for people to use.
  • Higher populations use more water. This means there is less available to share around.
• Differences in water supply

  Areas of water surplus have more water than they need. Excess water flows along rivers and out into the sea, but can become a problem if it floods the land. Areas of water deficit have too little water.
• Countries that consume a lot of energy

  • High income countries (HICs)
  • New emerging economies (NEEs)
• People living in HICs and NEEs


  • Usually linked to a national electricity grid
  • Use a lot of technology in their lives
  • Have a high standard of living
• Factories in NEEs

  • Use energy to manufacture products
• Countries that use less energy


  • Low income countries (LICs)
• People living in LICs

  • Not connected to an electricity grid
  • Rely on primary energy sources, such as fuel-wood or animal dung
• Countries that produce large supplies of energy


  • Countries with fossil fuel reserves
  • Countries with access to other energy sources, such as geothermal heat
• Other countries are dependent upon imported fuel
• Fuel prices are set by the exporting countries


  Those importing fuel often have to pay high prices
• Energy security


  Producing a high percentage of the energy that a country consumes
• Energy insecurity


  Consuming more energy than a country produces
• Energy security is determined by the balance between the amount of energy produced in that country and energy imported from abroad