Lets Review the Economics/Government

Study Guide

Describe the Government of South Africa

• Type of Government: Republic • Set Up: Two House Legislature called the

National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces

• Head of State: President elected by the National Assembly(legislature)

• Voting Rights: All Citizens 18 and older can votes for members of the National Assembly-Racism issues still exist from Apartheid

• Year of Independence: 1910 from Great Britain-1994 from Apartheid

Describe the Government of Kenya

• Type of Government: Republic • Set Up: One House Legislature called the

National Assembly/Bunge • Head of State: President-leads the KANU

Kenyan National Union Political Party • Voting Rights: All Citizens 18 and older • Year of Independence: 1963 from Great

Britain

Describe the Government of Sudan

• Type of Government: Republic…sort of(more of a dictatorship)

• Set Up: National Legislature BUT the government is dominated by the National Congress Party

• Head of State: President who leads the National Congress Party Hmmmm?

• Voting Rights: All Citizens 17 and older Citizens have few freedoms unless they are associated with the National Congress Party

• Year of Independence: 1956 from Great Britain and Egypt

How does Malaria affect Africa?

• Tropical disease spread by mosquito bites • 1 million die from it each year • Children in Sub Saharan Africa most at risk for

the disease • Insecticides, mosquito nets, and anti malarial

drugs can help…but they are expensive

What are the causes of food shortages?

• Wars-Civil wars and wars between countries • Drought • Poor Government

How does AIDS affect Africa?

• Pandemic • 17 million people have died from it • Orphans Children • Treatments are expensive • No Cure

How does famine affect Africa?

• Risk of Famine the Highest in Sub Saharan Africa

• Result of poor food distribution and poverty

What contributes to Poverty?

• Poor Government Organization • Poor Living Conditions

Where is the risk of poverty the highest in Africa?

• Sub Saharan Africa

What factors have made it difficult to build stable governments in Africa?

• Civil Wars • Corrupt Governments

What is a democracy?

• Citizens have the most say-they elect representative to make and enforce the laws

What is a autocracy?

• Power is held by one person who uses the military to make and enforce the laws.

• Forms of autocracy are: Absolute Monarchy and Dictatorship

What is a Oligarchy?

• Power is held by a small group of people who use the military to make and enforce the laws.

• An example of an Oligarchy is Communism

What is a Monarchy and what are the two types?

• Power is held by a king, queen, emperor, empress.

• Two types are absolute(ruler has all the power) and constitutional(rulers power limited by constitution)

What is a dictatorship?

• A country ruled by a single leader. • The ideas of this single leader are glorified. • The leader has not been elected and may use

force to keep control. • In a military dictatorship, the army is in control

What is anarchy?

• Anarchy is a situation where there is no government. This can happen after a civil war in a country, when a government has been destroyed and rival groups are fighting to take its place.

Who has the highest literacy rate between Egypt, South Africa, Kenya,

and Sudan?

• South Africa…86%

What is another word for parliament?

• Legislature

What is a federal system of government?

In a federal system of government, Power is shared somewhat evenly (not always 50/50)between the central government and the government of states or provinces.

What is a unitary system of government?

• In a unitary system of government, the central government decides which powers to grant to local governments.

What is a confederate system of government?

• In a confederate system of government or confederation, individual states hold more power than the central government.

What is a market economy? • Definition: An economic system managed by the

people and private businesses. • There is no government interference or regulation • Other names for a market economy include:

capitalism, laissez faire, free enterprise, and free market system

• Based on supply and demand • Businesses control what to produce • Consumers control what to buy • Entrepreneurs are present in this economy because

they are free to start their own businesses

What is a command economy?

• Definition: An economic system where the central government is in charge

• The governments determines what is manufactured and sets the price for goods and services

• The governments also chooses the occupation the people work at and sets their wages.

• Citizens can choose the goods and services they want. • It is not a successful economic system • Cuba and North Korea have this kind of economic

system

What is a traditional economy? • Definition: an economic system based on traditions,

beliefs, customs, and routines • Good and services are shared among all members • No official currency • Open markets play a part-it involves trading and bartering • People decide and play a direct role • Roles are passed down through family members and

ancestors • It never changes • Oldest economic system in the world • Currently kikuyu Tribe in Kenya uses this economic system

What is a mixed economy?

• Definition: An economic system that is mixture between a pure command economy and a pure market economy

• It is not always a 50% balance between the two economic systems. It varies based on the country.

• Individuals and Businesses decide what to produce, how to produce, and for whom to produce

• The government can regulate a factories production due to pollution factors or pass laws making sure products are safe for consumers.

What is specialization?

• Specialization is a situation where each country produces goods that it is able to make efficiently.

• Many nations specialize in producing certain goods and services.

• Specialization leads to increased international trade because countries are able to earn money selling the things they are good at making.

• At the same time, countries want to buy goods they are not able to produce at home.

What are tariffs?

• A Tariff is a tax on imports. • By taxing imported goods, a country can

protect the goods made in its own country. • A tariff(tax) will make the imported good cost

more! The effect will hopefully will be that people will buy the cheaper native country version.

• Example: A GMC SUV versus a Honda Passport!

What are quotas?

• An Import Quota limits the number of goods that can be imported into a country.

• It has a similar effect to tariffs because it makes a certain item harder to get.

• When things are rare, their price increases thus making most people buy the cheaper native country version!

What are embargos?

• An embargo is a ban on trade with another country.

• Embargoes are used for political versus economic reasons.

• Example: After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the U.N. imposed a strict embargo on Iraq. The goal was to pressure Iraqi Leader Saddam Hussein to withdraw his forces from Kuwait.

What are sanctions?

• Sanctions are economic penalties that one country imposes on another to force a change in policy…used with South Africa to end Apartheid.

What is human capital?

• Human Capital is the value of peoples work. A skilled worker is valuable to businesses and the nation.

• Investing in human capital is important to financial growth. Training, education, and medical care are important to keeping workers skilled and healthy.

Describe the economy of South Africa

• Nigeria and South Africa have two of the largest economies in Africa

• South Africa has the highest GDP in Africa at $500 billion. • South Africa is still recovering from the economic sanctions

of apartheid. South Africa’s economy is more diversified than Nigeria-different industries contribute to the economy

• South Africa is a major producer of agricultural goods and motor vehicles. Metals such as gold and platinum are also major exports.

• South Africa has a mixed economies. • In South Africa, the government has sold previously owned

industries such as steel and railroads, but still controls the main electric utility.

Describe the economy of Nigeria

• Nigeria and South Africa have two of the largest economies in Africa

• Nigeria has the 3rd largest GDP at $335 billion. • Nigeria’s economy is based on oil-80% of Nigeria’s

government budget comes from oil-when the price of oil falls, Nigeria’s economy suffers

• Nigeria has a mixed economy • In Nigeria, the government has sold several oil

and chemical companies that they once owned.

What is exchange rate?

• There are many different currencies used in the world today.

• A currency is defined as a system of money. Example: The U.S. Dollar

• A Currency Exchange Rate must be used in order for countries with different currencies to trade.

• The currency exchange rate tells people in one country how much their money is worth in another country.

What are the three key basic economic questions every country must answer?

1. What to produce? 2. How to produce? 3. For Whom to Produce?

What is the most important factor in determining what a country produces,

exports, and imports?

A country’s location and natural resources