Unit 8 Flashcards
demographic tools for quantifying human population
CBR, CDR, TFR, DT and NIR
difference influences on human population dynamics
cultural, historical, religious, social, political, economic factors
swell as national and international development policies
Demographic Transition Model
model which shows how a population transitions from a pre-industrial stage with high CBR and CDR to an economically advanced stage with low or declining CBR and low CDR
exponential curve
when a population follows an accelerating rate of growth which is proportional to the population size
four main factors that affect population size of organisms
birth rate, death rate, immigration and emigration
fertility rates
higher than 2.0 = population increase
lower than 2.0 = population decrease
fertility rate
number of births per thousand women of child bearing age
replacement fertility
from 2.03 in MEDCs and 2.16 in LEDCs because of infant and childhood mortality
CBR
number of births per thousand individuals in a population, male and female, young and old, per year
Human Development Index
combines measures of health (life expectancy), wealth (Gross Domestic Product per capita) and education in one value
countries considered as NICs
China, India, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Turkey
human population causing environmental impact appears to be underpinned by a set of simple facts
- more ppl require more resources
- more ppl produce more waste
- ppl usually want to improve their standard of living
- more ppl there are, the greater impact they have
CONTROL POPULATION INCREASE AND CONTROL RESOURCE DEMAND –> LEVELS OF SUSTAINABILITY SHOULD INCREASE
demography
study of the statistical characteristics of human populations (eg total size, age, sex composition, changes over time with variations in birth and death rates)
populations remain stable when the death rate and the birth rate are equal so there is no net gain in population size
proportion of population in MEDCs and LEDCs
20% MEDC
80% LEDC
malthusian theory explanation
- claimed that food supply was the main limit to population growth
- believed that the human population increases geometrically whereas food supplies can only grow arithmetically, being limited by available new land
- the “laws of nature” dictate that a population can never increase beyond the food supplies necessary to support it
- believed that as long as fertile land is available, that there would be more than enough food to feed a growing population
- food production can only increase to a certain level determined by the productive capacity of the land and existing levels of technology
law of diminishing returns
where even with a high level of technology, only a small increase in yield will eventually occur as over cultivation and soil erosion contributes to a decline in food production
limitations of malthusian theory
It assumes that population growth is solely determined by food supply, while other factors such as disease, family planning, and migration can have a significant impact. Second, it fails to account for the fact that human ingenuity can find ways to increase food production and reduce poverty. Finally, it does not recognize that different countries and cultures may have different population growth patterns and responses to population pressure.
malthusian theory sum up
suggests that population growth will eventually outstrip resources, leading to famine, disease, and other forms of suffering
Boserup’s theory sum up
challenges the Malthusian theory by suggesting that population growth stimulates technological advances and increases agricultural productivity
“necessity is the mother of invention”
Boserup’s theory explanation
- asserted that an increase in population would stimulate technologists to increase food production
- suggested that any rise in population will increase the demand for food and so act as an incentive to change agrarian technology and produce more food
- as a population increases, agriculture moves into higher stages of intensity through innovation and the introduction of new farming methods
- POPULATION GROWTH NATURALLY LEADS TO DEVELOPMENT
Limitations of Boserup’s theory
- The theory does not adequately address the potential negative environmental impacts of increased agricultural intensification and resource extraction.
- was developed based on observations of agricultural practices in developing countries. It may not be applicable to all regions or agricultural systems, particularly those with different social, economic, and environmental contexts
- overestimates the role of population growth
- Underestimates the role of social and political factors
application of theories of Boserup and Malthus
- on global level the growing suffering and famine in some LEDCs may reinforce Malthusian ideas
- at a national scale some Govs have been motivated by increasing population to develop their resources and so meet growing demands
- Malthus refers to the environmental limits while Boserup refers to cultural and technological issues
why do people have large families?
- high infant and childhood mortality
- security in old age
- children are an economic asset
- status of women
- unavailability of contraceptives
