United States, Costa Rica, Jamaica 5.2

Name, Location, Geography
Can you include a map to show locations of your countries? What are some geographic features of the countries that may impact production and trade?

1. United States

Tropical climate in Florida and Hawaii, arctic in Alaska, overall mostly temperate Central plain, mountains in west, volcanoes in Hawaii Volcanoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, mudslides, forest fires, flooding, air pollution

2. Costa Rica

• Tropical climate, coastal plain, rugged mountains, four volcanoes
• Earthquakes, deforestation, and hurricanes
• Flooding of lowlands and landslides, two active volcanoes

3. Jamaica

• Island, mountains, hot and tropical climate, coastal plains
• Hurricanes, deforestation, oil spill, air pollution

Economic System
Is the country primarily a traditional, command, market, or mixed economy? How does the country structure its leadership? Is the country developed or least developed? Are there any significant events happening in the country in regards to its economy or politics?

1. United States

• Market economy
• Constitution-based federal republic
• Developed country
• Recession, debt

2. Costa Rica

• Gov. Type: Democratic republic
• Developing country
• Mixed economy
• Floods, earthquakes

3. Jamaica

• Gov. Type: Constitutional parliamentary democracy, based on English common law
• Internal debt
• Unemployment
• Drug trade
• Mixed economy

Works Cited:

http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blccostarica.htm

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2019.htm

http://us.oneworld.net/places/costa-rica

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/26123/20100601/6-1-earthquake-shakes-costa-rica-s-pacific-coast.htm

http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcjamaica.htm

http://www.123independenceday.com/jamaica/economy.html