Population Case Studies

Population Case Studies

1. Solving Overpopulation through Birth Control - China's 1 Child Policy 1979

   • Reasons for it being Introduced?
     • Baby Boom
     • Led to famine in 1950's killing 35 million people.
   • Effects of it?
     • Gave 10% salary increase to those that followed it and provided free healthcare and schooling.
     • Those that disobeyed, fined to point of bankruptcy and forced abortions (Granny Police)
     • Reduced population by 400 million people over 20 years, more food, money and jobs available.
     • However, boys valued more, led to female infranticide and abandonment. Difficult for people on farms.
   • Changes to it in 1990's?
     • Only children themselves and farmers allowed 2.
     • Still gender imbalance - 60 million more boys.
     • 4 2 1 syndrome
     • As China has developed, wealthier (people can afford fines) and women emancipation (Naturally less births)

2. Solving Overpopulation without using Birth Control - Indonesia Transmigration

   • Problems
     • Overcrowding particularly in Jakarter: lacking food and space and suffering poor health.
   • Solutions
     • Transmigration: Encouraged to move via boats to sparsely populated islands like Borneo with incentives including: free land, free house and free travel.
   • Effects
     • Total of 3 million moved.
     • Helps to develop rural areas.
     • Deforestation ruins habitats and causes soil erosion.
     • Strained relationships between locals and settlers.
     • Only delays and spreads out problem.

3. Ageing Population - UK

   • Why?
     • Increased Life Expectancy as a result of better healthcare and better lifestyles (exercising, good diets and leisure time)
     • Dropping Birth Rates as a result of emancipation of women.
   • Issues
     • Residential Homes and Healthcare under pressure (Expensive)
     • Too few economically active people to support them (Bad dependancy ratio)
     • Government struggles paying pensions.
   • Solutions
     • Raising Retirement Age to 67
     • Encouraging Women to have Children - longer maternity, paid hours of childcare and support going back to work.
     • Encouraging Immigration of young peope - more economically active (taxes) and more women of child-bearing age.

4. Migration within the EU - Eastern Europe (Poland) to the UK

   • Eastern Europe (Poland)
     • Positives
       • Remittance sent home
       • Reduces pressure on resources.
     • Negatives
       • Brain Drain
       • Bad Dependancy Ratio when people leave.
   • UK
     • Positives
       • Unwanted '3D' Jobs taken by cheap immigrants.
       • Pay tax in UK - better dependancy
       • Cultural Diversity
     • Negatives
       • Take jobs from unemployed Britons.
       • Money sent back in remittance - lose £4 billion a year
       • Pressure on resources & services.
       • Racial Intolerance

5. International Migration - Ghana to Italy

   • PUSH FACTORS: GDP only $540, 28% live in poverty & 100,000 forced from homes due to war.
   • PULL FACTORS: GDP $26,000, 10% live in poverty, job opportunity & healthcare.
   • Ghana
     • Positives
       • 7.6% of GDP from remittance
       • Less pressure on resources.
     • Negatives
       • Brain Drain - lost 2000 nurses/doctors in 2000
       • 150,000 left in 2000
   • Italy
     • Positives
       • Cheap labour for businesses.
       • Sharing of Culture
     • Negatives
       • 40% of their population growth from immigrants
       • 3x Unemployment Rate as migrants take jobs for less money.

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