Topic 2.2 Consequences of Population Distribution

Question 1

Economic Consequences

Answer 1

More densely populated areas:

• More job opportunities
• Manufacturing and service industries tend to locate where the people are
• Increased job competition

Less densely populated areas:

• Fewer job opportunities
• Lower wages
• Often less developed than more densely populated areas

Question 2

Social Services and Infrastructure Consequences

Answer 2

High population density increases access to:
- Housing–more options available (single family, multi-family, townhomes, retirement communities, etc.), but supply could be low
- Social services–water, sanitation, police, fire, public transportation, schools, medical facilities, etc.
- Dispersed populations have limited access to all of the above.

Question 3

Political Consequences

Answer 3

• Representation in government
• Population determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress (435 total seats given to 50 states)
  Sometimes you gain, sometimes you lose
• Electoral districts must be roughly equal in population size
• Redistricting–process of redrawing electoral district boundaries after the Census count (every 10 years)

Question 4

Environmental Consequences

Answer 4

Carrying capacity–the maximum population size an environment can sustain
- High population density increases pressure on arable land, water, resources, and food supply
- Air and water pollution, and depletion of natural resources are the result