Population Resource Debate

Question 1

Define overpopulation

Answer 1

There are too many people in an area relative to the available resources and level of technology available locally to maintain a high standard of living.

Question 2

Who are the optimists?

Answer 2

Boserup, Simon, Lomborg

Question 3

Define underpopulation

Answer 3

There are too few people in an area to use the resources and technology efficiently.

Question 4

Characteristics of overpopulation

Answer 4

low income per capita
high unemployment
underemployment
outward migration

Question 5

Characteristics of underpopulation

Answer 5

high income per capita
low maximum income
low unemployment
inward migration

Question 6

define optimum population

Answer 6

there is a balance between population size and the amount of resources available. This is a theoretical population that will produce the highest standard of living, and the concept changes when technology improves.

Question 7

Views of optimists (3)

Answer 7

population increase means increased demand for food
this means technological improvements are made
therefore population growth continues unchecked.

Question 8

evidence of optimists (general thing)

Answer 8

Predictions of past environmental disasters have not occurred.

Question 9

1960s optimist evidence

Answer 9

population explosion concerns = growth slowed

Question 10

1970s optimist evidence

Answer 10

oil crisis and fear of food supply failure = more oil reserves found and green revolution + intensification of agriculture = more food per head

Question 11

1990s optimist evidence

Answer 11

deforestation concerns = rainforests still 80% intact

Question 12

Who was Boserup and what did she publish?

Answer 12

A danish economist who published ‘The Conditions for Agricultural Growth’

Question 13

What did Boserup say?

Answer 13

Necessity is the mother of invention

Question 14

Boserup argument (3)

Answer 14

• Population approaches limits of food supply
• Human innovation and technology advances = food supply increases
• So food production keeps up with growth

Question 15

example for Boserup argument

Answer 15

High population density = soil exhaustion and reduced fertility = use fertilisers and irrigate (agricultural intensification)

Question 16

3 pieces of Evidence Boserup

Answer 16

• There is enough food to feed world, problem is distribution
• Famine only result of growing cash crops (Zimbabwe), natural disasters and wars
• Yields improved by Green revolution (seeds increased yield by 8x) and GM crops

Question 17

What did Lomborg say?

Answer 17

current hunger, deforestation and climate change issues overstated

Question 18

Lomborg argument

Answer 18

We should divert resources to the right areas to solve poverty and hunger e.g. Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Cost of tackling climate change too great; should adjust

Question 19

Lomborg evidence (1)

Answer 19

Food supplies continue to increase globally due to improvements in agriculture, rising incomes and education

Question 20

Who are the pessimists?

Answer 20

Malthus, Club of Rome, Ehrlich

Question 21

Views of Pessimists (5)

Answer 21

• Population increase = increased demand for food
• Less food per person
• Increased death rate
• Decreased fertility
• Decline in population

Question 22

5 bits of evidence pessimists

Answer 22

• Wars and famines (Sudan, Ethiopia, Sahel)
• FAO states > 800M chronically malnourished and 2 billion lack Food Security
• water scarcity predicted to be major issue
• Climate change
• non renewable resources (oil) running out

Question 23

When was malthus alive?

Answer 23

18th Century

Question 24

malthus argument title

Answer 24

Growth is stopped by various factors

Question 25

Explain malthus argument (3)

Answer 25

• Population grows geometrically
• Food supply grows arithmetically
• point of crisis reached where population > resources

Question 26

What are the two outcomes malthus?

Answer 26

Positive checks

Negative/preventative checks

Question 27

What are positive checks malthus? (4)

Answer 27

Population growth > food supply
increased death rate
growth checked by famine, war, disease
population recovers = cycle continues

Question 28

What are negative checks malthus? (4)

Answer 28

population growth nearly exceeds food supply
food shortages predicted and growth slows = keep within limits of food supply.
- BR falls due to subconscious decisions: food prices rise and living standards fall = more abortion and birth control, postponement of marriage.

Question 29

3 evidence Malthus

Answer 29

• famine in LEDCs where growth fast = positive checks
• Attempts to cater for growing population = environmental disasters e.g. global warming, desertification
• water supply shortage predicted = follows idea for food

Question 30

3 factors suggesting optimists are correct

Answer 30

• Number of deaths due to famine fallen over time
• Rate of world population growth slowed (2.19% 1963 to 1.13)
• Food shortages overcome - Green Revolution, GM, land reform

Question 31

3 factors suggesting pessimists are correct

Answer 31

• Population growth still rapid (1.13% 2016)
• Farming reliant on non-renewables = crisis
• Millions still malnourished

Question 32

Who are the Club of Rome?

Answer 32

A group of industrialists, scientists, economists and statesmen from 10 countries.

Question 33

What model did Club of Rome produce and when?

Answer 33

Limits to Growth Model

1972

Question 34

Club of Rome argument

Answer 34

• If present growth trends in population continue, and industrialisation, pollution, food production and resource depletion continue unchanged = limits to growth in next 100 years
• Sudden and uncontrollable decline in population and industrial capacity