Population and Resources Flashcards
(18 cards)
Optimum Population
Number of people in an area, when working with all possible resources, that will return the highest standard of living and quality of life
Standard Of Living Equation
SOL = Natural Resources x Technology/Population
Overpopulation
Too many people relative to resources and technology available to maintain adequate SOL
Bangladesh Ethiopia
Underpopulation
Far more resources available in area than people living there
Canada Australia
Carrying Capacity
Largest population the environment of an area can support with reference to resources available
Thomas Malthus Theory
Power of population indefinitely greater than power in earth to produce subsistence
Pop increases geometrically
Subsistence increases arithmetically
Crisis Point - finite number of people that a country could actually sustain
Malthus Negative Checks
Misery - impact disease, famine and war (shorten human life)
Vice - practicing to family planning leads to promiscuity
Moral Restraint - delayed marriage and abstinence from sex within marriage highly advisable
Malthus Positive Check
Increase mortality (Controlling DR)
Low SOL/unhealthy conditions
Result in disease, famine and war
Ester Boserup Theory
Optimistic. Pressure of population growth stimulated human innovation
“Necessity is mother of invention”
Pop grow until carrying capacity the human innovation develop substitutes or improve agri technology
Malthus Positives
Overpop and lack of food shortages in Ireland/Africa/China
Soil erosion and desertification due to over grazing (Sub-Saharan Africa
Conflict in some parts of world over resources (water/gold/diamonds)
Malthus Negatives
Theory too simplistic. Pop sustainability more complicated
Globalisation further complicates - import food support lack of agri produce
Many countries surplus food
Wider issue is fair distribution
Boserup Positives
Green Revolution 1950s led tech rev in agri prod new high yield crop
New tech increase capacity and effectiveness of agri
New global charity orgs investing in global investment programmes to support agri
Boserup Negatives
Theory based on Closed community - unlikely existence globally
International migration complicated - crisis times people move and relieve pressure
Some areas never able to sustain people - semi arid desert never be improved
Pro-Natalist
Policies aimed at increasing population and fertility rates
Nazi Germany
1960 Malaysia ‘Go for 5’
Anti-Natalist
Policies which aim to slow down fertility rate
India Started 1952
Direct Policies
Minimum Marriage Age
Womens Status
Childrens Edu and Work
Breastfeeding policies
Number of children per Family
Indirect Policies
Gov Spending
Education
Primary Healthcare
Family planning
Old Age Security
Tax Programmes
Family Allowances
User fees for larger familis
