8.1 Human Population Dynamics Flashcards
MEDC
More Economically Developed Countries with higher levels of income, industrialization, and standard of living.
Don’t accidently call it an “MECD”
LEDC
Less Economically Developed Countries characterized by lower levels of income, industrialization, and standard of living.
Don’t accidentally call is an ‘LECD”
Examples of newly industrialized countries
Mexico, Turkey, China, Malaysia
BRICS Countries
An acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, which are major emerging economies with significant influence on regional and global affairs.
HDI
Human Development Index, a composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators to measure a country’s social and economic development.
GDP
Gross Domestic Product, the total value of goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period (usually a year)
“GDP per capita” is the value attributed to each person living within that country.
Limitations of using GDP as a measure of development
GDP does not account for income distribution, environmental degradation, or non-market transactions, and can misrepresent well-being.
Limitations of using HDI as a measure of development
HDI does not consider inequality, poverty, and specific cultural and social factors affecting development.
Characteristics of MEDCs
High standard of living, advanced infrastructure, high literacy rates, low birth and death rates, and diverse economies.
Characteristics of LEDCs
Low standard of living, limited infrastructure, low literacy rates, high birth and death rates, and economies often reliant on agriculture.
Birth rate
The number of live births per 1,000 people per year.
Sometimes referred to as CBR (crude birth rate)
Death rate
The number of deaths per 1,000 people per year.
Sometimes referred to as CDR (crude death rate)
Fertility rate
The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime.
Life expectancy
The average number of years a person is expected to live based on current mortality rates.
Infant mortality
The number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births.
“Child mortality” by comparison is children under 5 years old.
Diarrheal diseases are biggest culprit
Natural Increase
The difference between the birth rate and the death rate of a population.
How to calculate doubling time (of a population)
The number of years it takes for a population to double in size.
70 divided by NIR
NIR
Natural Increase Rate, the percentage by which a population grows in a year excluding migration.
Replacement rate
The total fertility rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, typically around 2.1 children per woman.
Reasons for higher birth rate in LEDCs
Higher child mortality rates, economic benefits of larger families, lack of access to contraception, and cultural or religious factors.
Reasons for lower birth rate in MEDCs
Higher cost of living, greater access to family planning, higher female participation in the workforce, and lifestyle preferences.
Immigration vs emigration
Immigration is moving into a country
Emigration is moving away from a country.
Note that immigration has a double “m”, whereas emigration is just one.
Countries where the death rate exceeds the birth rate
Japan, Germany, and Italy.
Leads to a declining (and ageing) population
Reasons global fertility rate has decreased in last century
Improved access to contraception, higher female education and employment, urbanization, and changes in societal values.
Reasons life expectancy has increased in last century
Advances in medical technology, improved healthcare access, better nutrition, and enhanced sanitation.
Relationship between urbanization and fertility rate
Urbanization tends to lower fertility rates due to higher living costs, better access to education and employment for women, and greater availability of family planning services
Demography (also demographer, demographic)
the statistical study of populations, including the structure, distribution, and trends in size and composition, and the factors influencing these dynamics such as births, deaths, migration, and aging.
Population Pyramid
Also called an age/sex pyramid
A graphical illustration that shows the distribution of various age groups in a population, typically separated by gender.
Demographic Transition Model
Abbreviated as DTM (don’t call it DMT by accident)
A theoretical model that describes the transition from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a country develops.
Features of an LEDC population pyramid
Broad base indicating high birth rates, and narrow top indicating lower life expectancy.
Features of an MEDC population pyramid
Narrow base indicating lower birth rates, wider middle and top indicating higher life expectancy and aging population.
DTM: Stage 1
Characterized by high birth and death rates, resulting in a relatively stable and low population growth.
DTM: Stage 2
Marked by high birth rates and rapidly declining death rates, leading to a significant increase in population.
DTM: Stage 3
Birth rates begin to decline, death rates continue to fall, resulting in a slower rate of population growth.
DTM: Stage 4
Both birth and death rates are low, leading to a stable population with a high proportion of elderly people.
DTM: Stage 5
Characterized by very low birth rates, low death rates, and an aging population, potentially leading to a declining population.
Dependency
The reliance of non-working age population (children and elderly) on the working-age population for support.
Dependency ratio
A measure comparing the number of dependents (aged 0-14 and 65+) to the working-age population (aged 15-64).
Criticisms (limitations) of Demographic Transition Model
Assumes linear progression through stages.
Eurocentrism: may not adequately represent demographic transitions in other regions
The model disregards cultural and social factors that can influence fertility rates and population dynamics, such as religious beliefs and gender norms.
Doesn’t fully account for modern factors like globalization, urbanization, and advancements in healthcare and technology.
Within each stage of the model, there can be significant variation in trends
Criticisms (limitations) of population pyramids
Can oversimplify age structures
Can fail to account for migration
Represent a snapshot in time
Difficult to predict change if population trends are non-linear
Thomas Malthus
18th century, British
theorized that population growth would outpace food production, leading to widespread famine.
Esther Boserup
Danish economist (20th century)
Argued that agricultural innovation would increase with population pressure, countering Malthusian predictions.
Malthusian Catastrophe
A (theoretical?) situation where population growth outstrips agricultural production, resulting in famine, disease, and widespread mortality.
Anti-natal policies
Policies aimed at reducing birth rates through measures such as family planning, contraception, and incentives for smaller families.
Pro-natal policies
Policies designed to encourage higher birth rates by providing benefits and support to families with children.
One Child Policy
A policy implemented by China from 1979 to 2015 to limit most families to one child to control population growth.
Benefit of One Child Policy
Slowed population growth, reduced strain on resources, and economic gains from a smaller, more manageable population.
Criticisms of One Child Policy
Gender imbalances, aging population issues, and negative social consequences such as forced abortions and fines.
Millennium Development Goals
Eight international development goals established by the United Nations in 2000, aimed at reducing poverty, improving health, and promoting sustainable development by 2015.
Population policies to reduce birth rate
- Family planning services,
- Education,
- Economic incentives for smaller families,
- Legal restrictions on the number of children.
Policies to manage an ageing population
- increasing retirement age,
- promoting higher fertility rates,
- attracting immigrant workers
