Implications of population change - chapter 8

Question 1

When does overpopulation exist?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

When does underpopulation exist?

Answer 2

Too few people in an area to use the resources efficiently for a given level of technology.

Question 3

What does underpopulation imply?

Answer 3

Population increase - more effective use of resources - increase the standard of living.

Question 4

What is overpopulation characterised by?

4

Answer 4

1. Low per capita income.
2. High unemployment.
3. High underemployment.
4. Outward migration.

Question 5

What is underpopulation characterised by?

Answer 5

1. High per capita incomes.
2. Low unemployment.
3. Inward migration.

Question 6

What is an optimum population?

- how is this concept dynamic?

Answer 6

Theoretical population - works with all available resources - produces the highest standard of living.
Dynamic - technology improves, new resources available - more can be supported.

Question 7

Who had an optimistic approach to population change and what did they state?

Answer 7

Esther Boserup.
Population pressure increased food resources.
Environmental limits - altered by technology.
With demand - more intensive farm systems e.g. tropical areas of Africa reduced fallow period from 20 years to 2-3 months.

Question 8

What evidence supports Boserup’s approach?

2

Answer 8

1. Increasing intensity shifting cultivation systems.
   e.g. slash and burn method - low density rural areas.
   Adapting changing circumstances by adopting more intensive agricultural methods.
2. The Green Revolution - widespread high-yielding varieties of grains (GM crops) use.
   Fertiliser/pesticide use, water control and mechanisation.
   The increased yields allow more people to be fed.

Question 9

How does writers Julian Simon and Bjorn Lomborg argue against the pessimistic views to population changes?
- what do they encourage?

Answer 9

So-called environmental scares.
E.g. 1970’s - oil crisis.
Alarmists were wrong.
Encourage technology use to improve the living standards across the world, not just the rich minority.

Question 10

Who had a pessimistic approach to population change and what did they state?

Answer 10

Thomas Malthus.
The environment dominates and determines patterns of human life and behavior.
Lives limited by physical, economic and social factors.

Question 11

What did Malthus argue regarding food production?

Answer 11

Population increases faster than food resources.
Population grows geometrically (1, 2, 4, 8 ect.).
Food resources only develop arithmetically (1,2,3,4 etc.).
Food resources can’t keep pace.

Question 12

How did Malthus believe that the population/resource balance was maintained?

Answer 12

1. Increased misery levels through war, famine ect.
2. Increased moral restraint e.g. celibacy.
3. Increased abortion and infanticide.

Question 13

What did neo-malthusians such as the Club of Rome further argue?

Answer 13

1972 The Limits to Growth.
Sudden decline in population growth in 100 years if present trends continued.
Environmental/resource depletion were not only related to population growth - related to technology and consumption patterns.

Question 14

What do neo-malthusians suggest regarding population change? 2

Answer 14

1. Population planning.

2. Resource control.

Question 15

What is evidence to support the Malthus approach?

Answer 15

1. Wars/famines in Ethiopia - population growth has outstripped food supplies.
   FAO - 800 million people are chronically malnourished, 2 billion lack food security.
2. Rapid LEDC population growth after mortality rates fell - number of social/economic problems.
3. Future water shortage - 2050 45% in areas - water struggle for basic needs.

Question 16

What is an anti-natalist policy?

Answer 16

Policies that tackle rapid population growth by reducing fertility e.g. Chinese one-child policy.

Question 17

What is a pro-natalist policy?

Answer 17

Policies designed to increase the population e.g. France after WW2.
Forced or voluntary - for economic/political reasons.

Question 18

What do some countries do regarding managing population numbers?

Answer 18

1. Controlling immigration e.g. USA.
2. Encourage emigration e.g. Philippines.
3. Encourage transmigration e.g. Indonesia.

Question 19

What types of migration can manage a population? 2

Answer 19

1. Immigration - USA/Mexico border.

2. Transmigration - movement from an overpopulated to an underpopulated area e.g. Indonesia.

Question 20

How does the US managed immigration from Mexico?

Answer 20

1.6 million immigrants - 100,000 more than in 1999.
9,000 border patrol agents work along the 3,200 km border.
Increased agents after 9/11.
Electronic detection devices.
Heat sensors.
Night vision telescopes.
Ground vehicles/aircraft.

Question 21

Apart from the USA, what kind of policies have been introduced to deal with the number of migrants? 7

Answer 21

1. Making it more difficult to satisfy visa requirements.
2. Pre-boarding arrangements e.g. a return ticket.
3. Preventing illegal crossings.
4. Returning illegal asylum seekers immediately and requiring the carrier to pay for the return.
5. Fast track procedures for genuine asylum seekers.
6. Holding bases for visa checks e.g. Germany.
7. Charge people a returnable deposit who have foreign visitors.
   Money back once the guests have returned home.

Question 22

What is Agenda 21?

Answer 22

UN sustainable development programme agreed at various Earth summits.
Governments are obliged to form national plans/strategies for sustainable development.

Question 23

What are some suggested strategies talked about in Agenda 21 that could be used by local authorities? 3

Answer 23

1. Monitoring air and water quality.
2. Promoting energy efficiently.
3. Population management.

Question 24

What are some suggested strategies talked about in Agenda 21 that could be used by developing countries? 3

Answer 24

1. Training community nurses to for all elements of care.
2. Increasing female literacy rates.
3. Recognising falling BR and its problems.