Transcript Feb. 12, Economic Geography of Central Asia

Central Asian
Economic Geography
Mr. Broughman
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
History of Central Asian Economics
• The most noteworthy event in the modern
history of Central Asia was the fall of
communism in 1991. Communism had been a
part of Russian economics since the late-1910s
when V.I. Lenin introduced the concept to
Russian government. The policy grew under
Joseph Stalin from the 1920s through the
1950s.
• In that year, many Eastern European countries
and Central Asian countries declared their
independence as the Soviet Union collapsed
and became the present-day country of Russia.
History of Central Asian Economics
• In 1991, Russia’s economy went from being
completely communist to becoming slightly
free-market (or capitalist). The first
democratically elected president, Boris Yeltsin,
helped promote private business, while the
current president Vladimir Putin, has taken
Russia gradually back to its old ways.
• Since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991,
Russia has struggled to find its place in the
world. Both political and economic problems,
particularly the suspension of basic civil rights,
have led Russia to revert to previous conditions.
Agriculture
• Despite Russia’s extraordinary size, only 7% of its land
is suitable for farming. The remainder of the country is
either a tundra or coniferous forest, and thus does
not have the necessary climate for growing food.
• What is permafrost?
– Land that is permanently frozen year-round
• Where are Russia’s two main agricultural hubs?
– (1) Northern European Plain
– (2) Fertile Triangle (part of the Kulunda Steppe)
• Russia’s main crop, wheat, is grown in dark, rich, fertile
soil called chernozem. The main crop for many of the
poorer Central Asian countries is cotton.
Economic Challenges
• Russian businesses face stiff competition
from foreign investors in the region,
particularly in the oil industry.
• In addition to being formerly communist,
why has Russia industrialized slowly?
– (1) slow development of natural resources
due to poor climate
– (2) poor transportation networks
– (3) THE COUNTRY IS HUGE!
Infrastructure
• For its vast natural resources, Russia uses
pipe lines to ship products like oil and
natural gas.
• Its large size prevents the country from
supplying portions of the country with energy
and basic transportation routes. The
Trans-Siberian Railroad is the world’s
largest railroad system, transporting both
people and goods.
• What few “cities” exist in Siberia have
developed along rivers and the TransSiberian Railroad. Rivers and canals have
also helped support the shipment of goods
and people across the continent.
Infrastructure
• What are Russia’s three
main sources of energy?
– (1) Hydroelectric
power
– (2) Natural gas
– (3) Oil/Petroleum
Pollution
 Nuclear radiation from the explosion at
Chernobyl in 1986, a disregard for the
environment during Soviet
industrialization, fertilizer runoff, and
ridiculously poor air quality all hint
towards Russia’s environmental
problems.
Chernobyl, 20 Years Later
Standard of Living Traits
Pop.
GDP per
Life
Literacy
capita Expect.
Rate
$15,800 65 years 99.5%
Russia
142
million
Kazak.
16.4
million
$12,000 67 years
99.6%
Turkmen
.
5.1
million
$5,900
63 years
99.5%
Uzbek.
27
million
$3,000
67 years
96.6%