GEOGRAPHY 150: PROJECT 1 INSTRUCTIONS
While Mexico (the country’s official name is United Mexican States) is classified as a middle income
country, there exists substantial spatial variation by region/state in terms economic development
attainment. This project focuses upon a handful of socio-economic factors that explain, by region/ state,
these geographic differences. To describe these spatial differences among regions/states, students are
to analyze primary geographic data in both numerical and cartographic form and present their analysis
in a power point format. The following assignment contains five maps of Mexico, with all administrative
units named, from which to analyze these regional/state differences in economic development
attainment. Including the title slide, you should produce 8 slides.
PROMPTS
1. Title and Name
2. Map 1 provides Gross Domestic Product Per Person/Capita for 2007. Produce one slide (#2) with
three bullet points. Bullet Point 1 -> using the table titled “By GDP Per Capita (2007)” at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranked_list_of_Mexican_states#By_GDP_Per_capita_.282007.29
count the number of states/units below and above the national GDP per capita for 2007. Take
into account that there are 31 states, plus the Federal District of Mexico City (please also note
that one of the states is named Mexico). Bullet Point 2 -> based upon your calculations, what
does this tell us about the overall distribution of economic activities in Mexico? Specifically: Is
the country’s wealth shared evenly by all states or is it concentrated in few areas (states)?
Bullet point 3 -> using Map 1, provide a single sentence description concerning the geographic
(regional) pattern of distribution of Mexico’s GDP (the better off, and not so, areas).
3. Using Map 1 and Map 2, compare the geographic relationships between GDP per capita and
percent of urban population. Are there correlations between GDP per capita and percent urban
population? Please provide specific state examples.
4. Using Map 1 and map 3, compare the geographic relationships between GDP per capita and
infant mortality rates. Are there correlations between GDP per capita and infant mortality rates?
Please provide specific state examples.
5. Using Map 1 and Map 4, compare the geographic relationships between GDP per capita and
percent of a state’s population that is classified as Indigenous (Indian). Only data for the five
lowest and five highest states in terms of percent Indigenous are provided. Are there
correlations between GDP per capita and percent Indigenous? Please provide specific state
examples.
6. Using Map 1 and Map 5, compare the geographic relationships between GDP per capita and
results for the 2006 Presidential elections. Are there correlations between GDP per capita and
presidential election results? The letter C represents a victory of a conservative party candidate
in that state and the letter L represents a victory of a liberal candidate in that state. Find general
pattern and do not attempt to discuss anomalies. Please provide specific state examples.
7. Explain why the northern border states (including Nuevo Leon) are characterized by their
respective GDP Per Capita, % urban, and infant mortality economic development variables using
the textbook information found on pp. 170-171 and maps 1,2, and 3 as a guide. Use one bullet
point for each of the three economic development variables (three bullets total). Use your own
words so as not to plagiarize.
8. Explain why the southern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca are characterized by their respective
GDP Per Capita, % urban, and infant mortality economic development variables using the
textbook information found on p.172 and maps 1, 2, and 3 as a guide. Use one bullet point for
each of the three economic development variables (three bullets total). Use your own words so
as to avoid plagiarize.
