Population Case Studies Flashcards
1
Q
Give an example of a non birth control policy
A
- Kerala, a state in southern India
- very densely populated, with 819 people per km^2 and a total population of 32 million people
- India launched its family planning programme in 1952, just a few years after independence from the British
- its policy is to reduce population growth in both direct and indirect ways
2
Q
Give example of policies that directly reduced birth rates in Kerala?
A
- providing free contraception and advice
- allowing maternity leave for the first 2 births only, discouraging women from having a third child
- provide extra retirement benefits to those who have smaller families
3
Q
Give example of policies that indirectly reduced birth rates in Kerala?
A
- providing literacy classes in villages: raises education levels to help people make informed family planning choices
- improving education equally between boys and girls: this emancipates women, and makes them more likely to find formal work and delay child bearing ages
- allowing maternity leave for the first 2 births only, discouraging women from having a third child
- improving child health through vaccination programmes: reduces infant mortality, so reduces people’s need to have more children
- encouraging a higher marriage age through poster campaigns: reduces the length that women can have babies
- land was reformed so that everyone has access to farming land, allowing people to be self sufficient if they had small families
4
Q
Has the Kerala policy worked?
A
- a huge success with low fertility rates, slow population growth of 1.2% (one of the lowest)
- more girls going to university than boys
- a low infant mortality rate (12 per 1000)
- the growth rate in the last 10 years is 4.9%, compared to nationally being 17.6%
- around 64.1% is the working population and 12.6% are elderly dependants and 23.3% are young dependants
- highest female literacy rate: 90-92%
- highest life expectancy over 72
5
Q
What is China’s One Child Policy?
A
- introduced in 1979, it was a law stating that families could only have one child
- law stated that couples must:
- not marry until their twenties (20 for women, 22 for men)
- have only one successful pregnancy
- must be sterilised after the first pregnancy or abort future ones
- would receive 5-10% pay rise for having only one child
- would have priority housing, pensions and family benefits, including free education for the single child
6
Q
OCP: How are some couples punished for having more than one child?
A
- second children ‘don’t exist’ in the eyes of the government
- they do no have hukou, so denied access to healthcare and free education.
- unable to travel as personal ID ‘hukou’ taken away
- pay a crippling fine (14x annual salary)
- forced sterilisation after 1st child
7
Q
What are some exceptions to the OCP rules?
A
- a one child policy for 35% of the population, mostly urban (438.83 million)
- two child policy for 62.3% of population, for rural families, handicapped parents, traditional families, underground miners and fishermen
- three child policy for 1.3%: for minor ethnic groups or if rural family has disable child
- there are 56 different ethnic groups and 8% (16.12 million) are minor
8
Q
When was the OCP abolished?
A
- in January 2014, the policy was relaxed slightly to say that if the parents were only children, they could have two
- in October 2015, all families are allowed to have two children
9
Q
Why was the OCP introduced?
A
- in the 1950-60s, the population grew rapidly and its rate of growth was unsustainable
- the government decided that the existing ‘two child’ policy was not sufficient to reduce population growth
- they wanted to reduce negative effects such as overcrowding, lack of food, lack of energy resources, lack of water, stress on services and pollution
10
Q
What are the positive effects of the OCP?
A
- it is estimated that 400 million births have been prevented by the OCP. This has reduced famines and other problems that were previously forecast
- the standard of living for many people has improved, as they are wealthier. this is only partly due to the OCP, but new technologies from other countries has also helped fuel business and the decrease in poverty.
- by 2030, china will have taken only 50 years to move from a mainly young population to mainly an old one. This demographic change has an impact on economic dependancy and affects patterns of production and consumption
- with less time needed for childcare, women have more time to concentrate on their careers and achieve more. has helped to change attitude towards women
11
Q
What are the negative effects of the OCP?
A
- gender imbalance: 117 : 100 boys to girls
- gender inequality: boys are more favourable in rural areas. Partly because they can undertake manual labour and partly because of cultural inheritance rights. this led to more abortions and abandonments of girls. there are over 60 million more young men than women; unable to marry
- marriage market: birth year, body height, degree are placed in placards at the Shanghai marriage market
- ‘better’ lifestyle for children + no siblings: took all of parents’ time and wealth. sometimes they have to take care of parents; no life choice. they can be overindulged and turned into ‘little emperors’.
- women forced into abortions, violence against women, lost of personal freedom: abortion and sterilisation makes women feel like they have no control over their bodies and that the government controls their private life. some even have to inform when they have their period
12
Q
Why was the OCP policy recently changed?
A
- skewed sex ratio of males to females
- to increase labour supplies to ease pressures from an ageing population
- benefit sustained and healthy economic development
- people are living longer, leaving a greater burden on a shrinking work force
- economy is much weaker after 2009 crisis
- help to counteract rapid ageing population
- replenish work force to encourage opening
- stop campaigning against forced abortions
- return reproductive rights
13
Q
Describe the changes in the UK population structure between 2000 and 2085
A
- ageing population increases
- birth rate increases
- mor people live above the age of 80
- death rate steady, but birth rate declines/stays similar
- birth rate decreased, but same number of people being born
14
Q
What are the policies to cope with an ageing population in the UK?
A
- government initiatives: default retirement age as been phased out so employees can no longer force their workers to retire at 65. Decreases strain on pensions and dependancy ration. Increasing working population
- age at which you can gain state pension is increased. It used to be 60 for women and 65 for men but for people born in the 1990s, won’t get pension until 70
- government can encourage people to save for their old age e.g. personal pensions. ‘stakeholder pension’ with low charges was meant to help. decreases strain on pension and increase quality of life
- government can encourage employers to offer phased retirement e.g. teachers can go part-time in the years before retirement. this helps people plan for retired by releasing some responsibility and help school hire someone else. decrease strain on pension. enhances working population
- government can encourage people to take out private health insurance. may give tax relief and decrease NHS pressure and spending
- free prescriptions in wales and scotland to help elderly manage their health issues. decreases non-communicable disease and stain on health care and increases quality of life
- winter fuel payments: payments will be made to people aged 62 or over. to help keep warm. if you are 62 to 79, you are entitled a payment of £200. over 80 gets £300 decreases illness and decreases medical strain
- a pro-immigration policy to address labour shortages. may be politically unpopular. lowers dependancy and increases working population
- cuts benefits to wealthier elderly and/or increase the age at which they can be gained. e.g. state bus pass used to be claimed at 60, but in 2020, it will be by 65. may save treasury 1 billion pounds. but may affect quality of life. decreases government strain
- pro-natalist policies: encourage an increase in fertility rate. e.g. Child benefit paid to mothers. higher amount for eldest child £20.50 and £13.55 for other children. increases fertility rate and working population
- tax credits: the Child Trust Fun is for children born after 1 september 2003 have a £250 voucher that belongs to them at 18, to start adult life.
15
Q
Describe UK’s ageing population
A
- in 2005, 16% of population was over 65
- predicted to be 25% in 2041
- dependency ratio in 2000 was 50.5
- in 2050, 57.6
