GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA & EASTERN EUROPEName:
Geography 308
Country / Region:
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
PART 2: PEOPLE / CULTURE / ECONOMY
In this exercise you will be examiningthe various demographic, cultural and environmental issues of your region,continuing to work you toward your final project. Answer the questions completely andput “N.A.” only if the question is “Not Applicable.”Please place this assignment into the Dropbox on D2L.
DO NOT COPY AND PASTE!!
EVEN IF YOU CITE THE SOURCE, YOU WILL RECEIVE NO CREDIT FOR YOUR ANSWER IF YOU DO NOT WRITE IT IN YOUR OWN WORDS! CITE ALL SOURCES IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING EACH QUESTION, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED.
**NOTE: If you are studying a subregion (e.g. Kaliningrad, Vojvodina, Chechnya, etc.) you may need at times to usedata for all of Russia in the absence of more specific regional data, but incorporate as much as you can about your specific region.**
A. CURRENT DEMOGRAPHICS:Use CIA World Factbook
1.Complete the table below with data from the CIA World Factbook. To find the Location Quotient (LQ), divide yourRegionALdata by the U.S. data.A Location Quotient of 1.00 means that your region has the exact data make-up as the U.S. for that specific category. A number more than 1.00 means yourregion has a higher level of the data than the U.S., and a number less than 1.00 means yourregion has a lower level than the U.S. in that specific category.
EXAMPLE: If 10.1% of the Region’s residents have in a certain trait, and 15.2% of the U.S.’s residents also have it, then the LQ of 10.1 / 15.2 = 0.7(round to 1 decimal point) which would translate to you putting an “L” in the column on the far right since your region’s LQ is lower compared to the U.S. for that specific category.
Indicate if the LQ is higher (>1.1), about the same (0.9 to 1.1) or lower (<.90) by using H, S,orL.
Category
/Your Country
/U. S.
/ LQ / H, S, or LMedian Age
Population growth rate
Infant mortality rate(total population)
Life expectancy at birth (total population)
Total fertility rate
Literacy Rate (Male):
Literacy Rate (Female):
Net Migration Rate:
2. Provide three (3) significant observations based on the above data:
3.Go to theU.S. Census Bureau’sInternational database. Select each of the following options for each of the boxes that are present on the page:
- Under Select Report: select Population Pyramid Graph
- Under Select up to 25 Year(s): select 2015
- Under Aggregation Options:Show individual Country data only
- Under Select one or more Country(ies) or Areas: select your country
- Under Select Region(s): select UN Regionsand click Submit .
Then, right-click on the population pyramid, select Copy, right-click in the space below, and select Paste.
4. Examine the Population Pyramid by age. What evidence can you detect of 20th century events such as wars, economic cycles, baby booms, baby busts, etc.? What about gender or age differences or other notable observations? If you need help, look at the 2015 population pyramid for the U.S. and compare it with your country.Identify and explain three (3) significant features of your population pyramid.
B. LANGUAGE AND ETHNICITY
1.Complete the chart below ranking the three (3) most widely spoken languages in your region, the number of speakers of each language, the primary ethnicities that speak these languages, their percentage of the region’s population, and the areas in which these languagesare spoken (use terms such as E, S, NW, coastal areas, capital, etc.).
For Language Information:
For Ethnicity Information:
For Maps /Regional Information: and / or
NOTE: You may need to calculate the ethnic % based on the population or the population based on the %.
NOTE: For KALININGRADassume everyone speaks Russian then go to to find the ethnic makeup of Kaliningrad. Then apply these percentages to arrive at the numbers of speakers of these languages.
NOTE: For KOSOVOgo to
NOTE: For VOJVODINAgo to
Rank
/Language
/ Number of Speakers / Primary Ethnicity / % of Population /Main region(s) of the country
1.2.
3.
2.Using the above chart, identifythe largest ethnic group in your country. Now Google this ethnic group + every country that borders your country + issues. For example, if your country is Slovakia, you would Google Slovaks + Hungary + issues and then do the same with all other bordering countries of Slovakia. Briefly list and describe two (2)currentissues of significance regarding the presence of this ethnicity within neighboring countries. CITE YOUR SOURCE(S)!
3.Similarly, using one (1)of the smaller ethnicities found in this same chart, Google this ethnicity + your country + ethnic issues. For example, for Slovakia you could Google: Hungarian + Slovakia + ethnic issues. Briefly describe any current issues of significance regarding the presence of this ethnicity within your country. CITE YOUR SOURCE(S)!
4. Romani Population: Go to What is the estimated Romani population in your country? Is it this number disputed? If yes, explain why.
Population: Disputed? (circle one): Yes No
If “Yes,” why disputed?
5. Now, Google your country + Roma + issues. Scroll your search results and find the most recentexample of an issue concerning the Romani / Roma population within your country. CITE YOUR SOURCE(S)!
C. RELIGIONUse CIA World Factbook
- Complete the chart below regarding the three (3) largest religious groups (list the specific sect such as Lutheran, Sunni, Greek Orthodox, etc.) in your region, the number of followers of that religion within your region, this religion’s percentage of the region’s population, and which ethnicities are most strongly associated with that religion.
Size
/Religion
(i.e. Shi’a Muslim, Lutheranism, etc.) /Number of Followers
(i.e. 1,000,000) / % / Associated Ethnic Group(s)(i.e.Turks)
1.
2.
3.
2.Google your country + religious + conflict.Find one (1)current (as current as possible) Does thisconflict also maintain an element of ethnic tension as well? Explain. CITE YOUR SOURCE!
D. ECONOMIC ISSUES: UseCIA World Factbook
1.Click on the Transnational Issuestab and read about the major Transnational Issues (e.g. Refugees, Trafficking in Persons, Illicit Drugs, etc.) that impact your country. Now, Google tofindtwo(2)currentarticles that relate to these issues and BRIEFLY summarize them below. CITE YOUR SOURCES!
2. Economic statistics. Fill in the chart for your country and for the United States. If the figures are not available, write “N/A” into blank. Then,calculate the Location Quotient like you did before and indicate if your country is higher, about the same, or lower than the U.S. for each category. Use the same scale from above
H1.1 S = .9 thru 1.1 L < 0.9
EXAMPLE: If Your Country = 12.4%, and U.S. = 3.1%, then the LQ of 12.4 / 3.1 = 4.0, enter “H”)
Category
/Your Country
/U.S.
/LQ
/H, S, or L
GDP - per capita!!!GDP – real growth rate
Unemployment rate
Population below poverty line
Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
Inflation Rate* (* skip the LQ if negative)
Military Expenditures – Percent of GDP
3. Identify three major differences and / or similar between your country’s economy and that of the U.S.
4. Name of national currency:
5. Most Recent Exchange Rates (compared to U.S. Dollar): List the five years provided by the CIA
YEARRate
6. Currency Trends. According to the above chart, has your country’s currency become stronger, weaker, or stayed about the same against the dollar? Be careful!Identify and offer your explanation as to any trends or irregularities in the exchange rate as well as any changes in the actual currency used, itself.
E. INDUSTRY and ENVIRONMENT: Use CIA World Factbook
1. Three main industries / economic activities. List three (3) of the top industries in the country and indicate where within your country each industry is concentrated.Google your country + map + industry for locations (if not indicated on CIA World Factbook) or check out the Perry-Castañeda Map Library at UT-Austin.
Top Industries / Location(s) (i.e. N, SW, SE, E, etc.)1.
2.
3.
2. Communications and Transportation. Use the Communication and Transportation tabs.
Category / Your Country / U.S. / LQ / H, S, or LCell phonesper capita (divide number of cell phones by total population)
Internet users as % of population
Railways (total) in kmper capita (divide km by total population)
Highways (paved) in km per capita (divide km by total population)
3. Environmental Issues.Click on the Geography tab and scroll down to the heading titled “Environment - current issues:” Are there any links between these issues and any of the industries you identified in E.1. or to tourism? Now, Google to find at least one article that relates to any of these issues and BRIEFLY summarize it below. CITE YOUR SOURCE(S)!
4. Tourism. Google your country + embassy+ tourism. Then, click an official link hosted by the embassy of your country and navigate your way to the tourism site. What is your country promoting and how does it represent itself? Is it a quality representation? Explain.Offer your observations below.CITE YOUR SOURCE!
F.SUMMARY
1.In general, given the information you have discovered in this exercise—concerning cultural history, borders, ethnicity, religion, language, and demographics—what would you say is the most significantof these issues in your region? Explain.
2. Synopsis. Based on your research, what appears to be the most significant environmental, economic and / or political issue facing your country? Is there an apparent solution and / or is anything being done about it? Why or why not?
3. Overall Synopsis. Based on all the research you have done on your country (from both assignments as well as news items you have read, issues we have discussed in class, etc.), what do you think are the three most important geographic issues on the minds of the citizens of your country / region? List the TOP 3 issues and offer some insight as to why these issues are of such significance to your region.