Population Dynamics

Population Dynamics

1. World Population Growth

   • World population has increased from 1 billion in 1804 to 7 billion in 2012 mainly due to decreased death rate.
   • Falls in birthrate means the rate of population growth is predicted to decrease
   • Five Stages of Demographic Transition Model
     • Stage 1: High BR due to no contraception and children are seen as an asset (to work) so large families. High DR due to famine and epidemics
     • Stage 2: High BR, Falling DR due to improved hygiene, healthcare and nutrtion. More access to safe drinking water and better sewage disposal
     • Stage 3: Falling BR due to contraception and less chuldren dying and smaller families for economical reasons
     • Stage 4: Low BR as women delay starting families and birth control, Low DR due to improved healthcare
     • Stage 5: Slightly rising Death Rate due to a lot of old people and Low BR due to fewer younger people so fewer families

2. Population and Development

   • Population Pyramids
     • Show the number or percentage of different age groups for each gender in the population of a country
     • Can show what stage on the DTM a country is at
     • Different shapes for developed and undeveloped countries
     • Can forecast population totals and growth rates to help future planning
     • WIDE BASE = High BR, Narrow Top = SHorter Life Expactancy and Youthful population
     • Narrow Base = Low BR, Similar numbers in each age group = Low DR, Wide Top = Long Life expactancy, Ageing Population

3. Population Issues

   • Ageing Populations are problamatic as more money is needed for state pensions which means higher taxes for the current working force, More money needed for social provision (i.e carers, cooking, housing), medical provisions (hospotal beds and proffesionals to care)
   • Youthful Populations are problimatic as more money needed for nurseries schools and playgrounds and more money needed for martenity units, paedetric medical facilities

4. Managing Populations

   • OVERPOPULATION PROBLEMS: Not enough resources which may lead to malnutrition and starvation, Shortages of housing and educational and medical services, Unemployment will rise putting a strain on state benfits, Overcrowding will mean poorer licing conditions
   • UNDERPOPULATION PROBLEMS: Not enough people to exploit resources, Not enough people to pay taxes for services, Underemployment effect economy, Often ageing populations

5. Pro & and Anti-natal policies

   • CHINA (ANTI-NATALIST): This policy was put in place due to large population growth causing famines, The one child policies encourages only one child and there are penalties for people who have more, The benefits include longer maternity leave and cash bonuses, They also encourage young people to delay marriage, they also advise abortion for additional children, They may force sterilisation for people who have more than one child. It has been very succesful meaning less large famines but people favour boys so a large imbalance between girls and boys causing more prostitution and bride kidknapping
   • PRO NATALIST - SINGAPORE: They had an ageing population so they infleunced people to have 3 or more children They offer incentives such as tax rebates, cheap child care, this has been very succesful

6. Migration Policies

   • OPEN DOOR: Allows anyone to come to live in a country. There is an open door immigration policy in the EU
   • QUOTAS: This restricts the number of people allowed in a country per yea. Can be a total number allowed or a total number from a specific year or type of person
   • Skills tests: Potential Migrants have to pass a skills test that ensures only highly skilled and qualified migrants are allowed. It may also involve a points system where you have to have skills in certain areas to get enough points to qualify
   • Why Encourage Immigration?
     • 1. Can Help fix under population 2. Help address labour shortages as immigrants normally do jobs natives dont want to do 3. Can meet specific skill shortages (i.e doctors, teachers) 4. Immigrants add to a countries culture) 5. Working immigrants boost economy as they pay taxes
     • Tensions
       • 1. Pressures on housing, healthcare and education caused by immigrants. 2. Fear by natives that immigrants take their jobs 3. Discrimination/ Abuse of immigrants, 4. Immigrants can take advantage of state benefits