Unit 4 - Essays - Carrying Capacity

Question 1

‘Underpopulation of an area is easier to manage than overpopulation of an area’. With the aid of examples, to what extent do you agree with this view?

Answer 1

1. Yes – underpopulation allows more control and planning (Canada)

Abundant resources (land, energy, water) with space for population growth

Canada uses pro-immigration policies to boost labour supply

High HDI and infrastructure ease population support

2. But underpopulation brings labour shortages and regional imbalance

20% aged over 65, low TFR (1.4), rural youth outmigration

Northern Canada remains empty, straining development balance

3. Overpopulation is more complex (Bangladesh)

1,265 people/km², limited land, and strained urban services

Dhaka faces slums, congestion, water stress, and air pollution

4. Despite effort, overpopulation remains harder to fix

Bangladesh has invested in family planning, female education, and emigration—but population momentum and poverty remain obstacles

Conclusion

Underpopulation has challenges but is more manageable due to available space, resource flexibility, and policy tools. Overpopulation often overwhelms capacity despite intervention.

Question 2

‘Optimum population is difficult to achieve.’ With the aid of examples, how far do you agree with this statement?

Answer 2

1. Agree – demographic balance is hard to maintain (Sweden)

Sweden has ~10.5M people, productive workforce, and sustainable systems

But ageing population threatens future balance (rising dependency ratio)

2. Even success stories face variation and limits

Urban–rural divide in Sweden: Stockholm thrives, but remote areas struggle

Migration helps balance workforce but poses integration issues

3. Underpopulated areas struggle to reach optimum (Canada)

Despite immigration, labour shortages and regional gaps persist

Difficult to match population with vast resource base

4. Overpopulated areas face greater challenges (Bangladesh)

Population exceeds carrying capacity—resource pressure and low GDP/capita

Environmental degradation makes reaching optimum harder

Conclusion

Achieving optimum population is a moving target—shaped by fertility, migration, economy, and ageing. It is possible but hard to sustain consistently.

Question 3

‘The concept of optimum population is important in understanding population-resource relationships.’ With the aid of examples, how far do you agree?

Answer 3

1. Yes – helps identify balance point (Sweden)

Sweden matches resources with population → high living standards

Investments in education, technology, and sustainable use support this balance

2. Useful in contrast – shows under/overpopulation issues

Canada: Underpopulation limits economic potential despite resources

Bangladesh: Overpopulation exceeds resource capacity and strains services

3. Supports planning and policy decisions

Governments can target migration, fertility, or urban development to move toward optimum levels

Helps clarify what “too few” or “too many” really means in context

4. But it’s not universally precise or static

Optimum population shifts with tech, climate, and economic development

Global inequalities make it hard to apply the concept in LICs or unstable areas

Conclusion

Optimum population is a valuable concept for understanding how demographic size interacts with national capacity and sustainability, even if hard to quantify exactly.

Question 4

‘Economic factors are the main influence on population growth rates in a country.’ With the aid of examples, to what extent do you agree with this statement?

Answer 4

1. Yes – economic development strongly shapes fertility (Canada)

High cost of living, career-first culture → delayed marriage, fewer children

Low TFR (1.4), offset by immigration

2. Poverty also drives high fertility (Bangladesh)

Rural families rely on children for labour

Cultural norms tied to economic insecurity promote larger families

3. But social and cultural factors play a key role

Religious norms, education levels, and gender roles affect family size

In rural Bangladesh, even with economic development, family size may stay large without social change

4. Political and demographic momentum matter too

Bangladesh: past high fertility → population momentum even as rates fall

Canada: immigration policy plays major role in growth

Conclusion

Economic factors are major influences, but not the only ones. Social, cultural, and political conditions also significantly affect population growth dynamics.