Population Theory's Flashcards
What are Ester Boserups theory on population and resources?
That environments have limitations however these limits can be altered using technology. Food resources are created by population pressure and with demand the farming becomes more intensive, producing a greater crop yield. The pressure for more food drives research and adoption of technologies to improve farming techniques.
What evidence supports Ester Boserups theory?
The change from low density rural areas using ‘slash and burn’ methods to farm to higher density areas supporting a higher density population which use advanced irrigation methods. The ‘green revolution’ which is the widespread adoption of high yielding grains along with pesticides and fertilisers, water control and mechanisation allowing more people to be fed.
What is Thomas Malthus’ theory?
He said that our lives are contained by physical, economic and social factors. He said that the population growing exponentially was growing quicker than food supplies could produce more food linearly. The population is kept in check by more; misery by war, famine and disease; moral restraint such as later marriages and lower birth rates; increased infanticide such as abortions, infanticide and sexual ‘perversions’.
What evidence is there to support the neo-Malthusian view?
They believe wars and famines in Africa are due to a rapid population growth in those areas. Globally over 800 million people are chronically malnourished while 2 billion lack food security. The slow in population growth in recent decades is due to the population exceeding the physical limits of the planet, global warming is a great example. Water is scarcity is predicted by the UN to be a major problem in the future with 4.2 billion lacking the ability to get 50 litres of water a day.
What is Bjorn Lomburgs theory?
Population sustainability is a local concept. Local imbalances can be remedied either by international trade or people simply moving elsewhere. Pressure also drives technological solutions to the earths problems.
