Opinion essay

economic or political instability = a rapid, unmanaged change in a country’s economy or political situation
social unrest = riots, protests or fighting by the public against each other or the government
an issue = a topic, subject or question that must be considered
pressing matters = urgent, important issues
joblessness = a synonym for ‘unemployment’
economic prospects= the future possibilities for a national economy
social mobility = the ability of people to progress in terms of salary, lifestyle and social status
the private sector = private businesses, as opposed to ‘the public sector’ meaning state- owned or controlled services
demographics = the changes in society in terms of age, income, numbers, origins and location in a country
longevity= the tendency to have a long life expectancy
to migrate = to move permanently between countries
‘brain drain’ = the tendency for intelligent or successful workers to migrate out of a country (usually expressed in quotes ‘’)
existential threats = a threat to existence or life
an outbreak = the start of a widespread problem such as disease or conflict
civil war = war between people inside a country
livelihood = the way a person makes a living
developed countries= countries considered to have advanced economies, industries and social infrastructure
developing countries =countries not generally considered to be fully developed yet


Cities and infrastructure
urban = adjective meaning ‘about cities’
investment or funding = money to pay for an activity, either from government or business
infrastructure = the physical and system organisation of a city, area or country, especially in terms of transport and communications