Chapter 4: A Population Bomb or Not? Flashcards
Who was Thomas Malthus, and what did he predict in 1798?
Malthus was a British economist who predicted that population growth would outstrip food supplies, leading to disaster.
What is the current global population compared to Malthus’s time?
The current global population exceeds seven billion, much higher than the one billion in Malthus’s era.
Where is 90% of the current population growth occurring?
In the developing world, particularly in Africa and Asia.
What is the population growth trend in Africa and Asia from 1950 to 2050?
It increased from 64% of the world’s population in 1950 to over 70% in 2000 and is estimated to reach 78.5% by 2050.
What historical pattern does Amartya Sen compare to the current population growth in the developing world?
The demographic transformation similar to that in Europe and the U.S. during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
How has food production changed globally between 1980 and 2005?
It rose by 3% per capita globally, with significant increases in Asia, India, and China, but fell by 6% in sub-Saharan Africa.
What recent factor has caused concern about food production and climate change?
The IPCC’s 2013 report on the effects of rising temperatures on crop production.
How did food prices change during the 1990s, and why?
Food prices dropped by 38% due to a surplus, causing some farmers to cut back on production to prevent further price decreases.
How does population density relate to urban poverty and slums in the developing world?
While population density contributes, economic and political factors are more significant in the persistence of slums and poverty.
How does resource consumption compare between developed and developing countries?
One individual in a developed country consumes 32 times more resources than someone in the developing world.
What is Joel E. Cohen’s perspective on population limits?
Cohen suggests there are limits to growth and emphasizes the importance of sustainable resource use.
What does Cohen say about the world’s current food production capacity?
The world produces enough food to support 9 to 11 billion people, but distribution is uneven.
How much of the world’s grain is consumed directly by humans?
46% goes directly to human consumption, with 34% for livestock and 19% for industrial uses.
How is water demand expected to change with population growth and climate change?
Agriculture, which uses two-thirds of Earth’s fresh water, will face increased demand, especially in regions predicted to experience water shortages.
