Population Flashcards
Methods of data collection
Census
Explanation - List of questions that gathers data on social, economic and cultural status to give picture about what the population is like. Legal requirement every 10 years.
Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages
Explanation - Provides up to date data in between censuses as a certificate is produced almost immediately which includes names, parents, spouses etc.
National Surveys (Scottish Household Survey)
Explanation - It is continous so all data is fully up to date and accurate in between censuses.
NHS & Electoral Register Records
Explanation - Provides accurate data as they are updated and gathered regularly by trusted and accurate sources.
Issues with Data Collection
Developing
* Cost - Census taking is expensive and developing countries have to prioritise funding education and health so cannot afford to do it accurately and properly.
* Illegal Immigrants - Immigrants who have entred a country illegally don’t want to fill in a census in fear of being forced to return to their own country.
* Low Literacy Levels - Low literacy levels mean a large portion of the population will find it difficult to read the forms and won’t be able to fill them in accurately.
* Multi-lingual Countries - if there is more than one language spoken then forms need to be printed in multiple languages which increases costs.
* Access to Citizens - Poor communication links and infrastructure makes census taking difficult and expensive.
Developed
* Under-registration - In china many baby girls are left unregistered due to the one-child policy.
* Mistrust in Government - People may not tell the truth on the census if they do not trust the government.
* Natural Disasters - Information changes very quickly when a country is prone to natural disaaters.
Consequences of Population Structure
Developed
* Decreased number of future workers will increase need for raised pension age, taxes and immigration.
* Armed forces are greatly reduced.
* Companies struggle to find young, future workers.
* Strain on care and hospital facilities as people live longer and need medical care.
* Population may be in decline.
* A smaller percentage of the workforce has to support the older and younger dependants.
* Taxes must be raised to maintain high standards of living, health, education etc.
Developing
* More people are pulled into armed forces which can lead to armed factions an rebellions.
* Problems with sewage and rubbish leads to water and land pollution.
* Strain on emergency services (police,fire and medical).
* Crime rises due to people turning to crime to earn money.
* Unemployment rises as there is too many people for number of jobs.
* Expensive to provide schools and teachers. Not everyone can get education. Poor literacy rates.
* Insufficent and poor housing.
* Lots of money spent on doctors and healthcare but hospitals become overcrowded so not everyone has access.
* Overfarming causes infertile land so people move away and farms become smaller so there is a lack of sufficient food and cities become overcrowded with shanty towns.
Causes of voluntary migration
- High Crime Rates - People want to leave due to high homicide rates and drug gangs initiating violence.
- High poverty rates/Unemployment - People move to USA to get jobs in construction and retail which require less skill but have better pay than in Mexico.
- Lower Literacy Rates - Mexico has lower literacy rates than the USA so people want to move there to get a better education.
- Less Medical Support - Due to the healthcare being worse in Mexico the quality of life for people is bad so they want to leave to get better access.
- Lower Salary - People want to leave to get better payso they can have a better quality of life.
- Jobs - There is a greater variety and better pay than in Mexico.
- Better Education - Better oppurtunities to learn English to get better paid jobs.
- Supporting Family - Can send money back to support family.
- Family Ties - Community support each other so it feels welcoming.
- Higher Life Expectancy - Better access to food, shelter, healthcare so people live longer.
Impacts of voluntary migration
Positive
* Remittances are sent back from the USA to families back home. This reduces the number of families who live in poverty. This means that they can access better healthcare and education and boosts the economy as people have money to spend.
* Reduces pressure on housing, schools and jobs (less unemployment) in Mexico.
* Many migrants may eventually return to Mexico, having learned new skills. These can then be used to improve industry.
* Mexicans have enriched the diverse American culture, especially in states with large numbers. Food, film and music have embraced a Mexican influence and people in the USA can benefit from cultures which are different from their own.
* Spanish is taught in the majority of American Schools, widening the skills of youngsters and offering them more career oppurtunities.
* Mexicans fill many low paying jobs which Americans don’t want to do, eg in agriculture. The number of people willing to do these jobs also means that wages are kept low so business can keep costs down and increase profit.
* Legal migrants pay taxes in the USA as well as sending money home. This contributes to the economy, and can help improve local services.
* Labour gaps/shortages can be filled by highly skilled professionals eg engineers, academics and doctors.
Negative
* Many migrants are men. This has left women and children at home as families are separated. This can cause tension in families who are apart for long periods of time.
* Migration in some parts of Mexico is controlled by drug cartels who now smuggle people as well as drugs. This has increased the crime and violence in border towns.
* Young and skilled workers have left (brain drain) causing a shortage of workers in skilled professions.
* There have also been reductions in workforce in less skilled jobs such as the agriculture sector, with elderly farmers left to take on most of the work. Output has decreased leading to food shortages.
* Mexico has become a transit route for migrants which puts pressure on services. In addition, many end up in camps, in or near border towns in poor conditions.
* Migrants often settle in communities with other migrants and don’t integrate into wider society creating tension between migrants and locals.
* There are concerns that migrants are increasing crime rates in areas they migrate to eg smuggling drugs across the border.
* Ghetto areas can often form especially in cities and there may be a shortage of affordable housing.
* Increased costs of providing services for migrant poulations and their families eg healthcare, schooling, providing bilingual teachers.
Causes of Forced Migration Flow
- Lack of economic growth has led to high unemployment and few jobs.
- 4.25 million people have been made homeless due to the civil war.
- Civil war has lead to a high death toll so people are afraid for their lives and the lives of their families.
- There have been reports of kidnappings, torture and rape in Syria & other human rights violations.
- Homes, shops, schools, hospitals etc have been destroyed so people cannot access services they need.
- Turkish people are open to receiving refugees - a poll in 2016 suggested 72% of Turks welcomed them.
- Some camps provide education for youngsters so they can carry on with their schooling as well as basic medical care.
- Refugee camps provide basic shelter, food and water for migrants who have lost their homes.
- Turkey has around 3.6m Syrian refugees. People therefore have family members or fellow country people who can help them settle in.
- Safety away from air strikes, military action and daily stress of being in a warzone.
- Turkey’s main religion (Islam) so this reduces ethnic tensions and helps with integration.
Impacts of Forced Migration
Positive
- Money can be sent back to friends and family still living in Syria improving their lives and boosting local businesses.
- Migrants can fill job shortages in Turkey, particularly in lower paid, lower skilled jobs eg retail, tourism.
- Syrian workers will pay taxes which contributes to the economy. This can allow for increased public spending eg. on schools.
- Greater cultural diversity and new experiences eg Syrian food.
Negative
- There has been a brain drain with many well educated and wealthier people fleeing homes. There are fewer people to work as doctors, nurses and teachers etc.
- A lack of qualified medical staff has meant that those injured or suffering from disease are untreated. Syria’s life expectancy has dropped especially in cities such as Homs and Aleppo.
- The same is true in law enforcement with corruption problems.
- Fewer agricultural workers means less crops are grown and land sits unused which can lead to food shortages.
- Syria’s economy is stagnant so very few job oppurtunities.
- Fewer taxpayers means lack of funding for the government to pay for services eg. schools.
- Infrastructure has been damaged by the war so few incentives for companies to locate there.
- Many cultural cities are now deserted and ghost towns with few services remaining for those who haven’t left.
- Many of the migrants are younger and so an aging population is left behind in Syria. This can cause the economy to stagnate further with fewer employees and leads to increased pressure and health care.
- Some temporary refugee camps have been there for over 10 years. Conditions are poor with limited access to running water, sanitation etc. This can lead to ill health which puts pressure on medical services in Turkey.
- Even for those who have left camps and integrated into wider Turkish society, many are poor having sold off their valuables and savings. This puts pressure on the Turkish government to support them.
- Ethnic tensions, discrimination and racism can occur between Turks and Syrians. This can be exacerbated if locals feel that the Syrians are ‘stealing their jobs’.
- There may be pressure on accomodation, particularly in the cheapest areas of town as this is all that many can afford.
- There can sometimes be high unemployment amongst the Syrian migrant population, and many are forced into informal jobs. This means they are more likely to be exploited and they don’t pay taxes to the Turkish government.
