1975-1991 DEMOGRAPHYThe Challenge of Population Growth
Demographic Transition
The population of Europe almost doubled between 1850 and 1914
Put pressure on rural land to produce enough food, and on urban housing & institutions
Forced migrations to the west, developing the Americas
Thomas Malthus: population growth will exceed food production; we will starve
Demographic Transition
However, population growth slowed after WWII (minus baby boom in US) Cultural changes: female employment, later age of
childbearing, fewer kids, family planning, older age of marriage
Lower # births in developed countries, high # births in developing ones = almost zero population growth
In developing nations, they actually encouraged large families to grow population, increasing their power
But the economies of the 70s and 80s shocked their countries and power did not come
Negative Population Growth: Europe
Reasons for Developing Demographics
Fertility is declining in developing areas now HIV/AIDS Poorly funded public health Still higher rates than developed
countries Ethnicities from developing countries,
living in developed countries, still experiencing high birth rates—cultural?
Culture dictates some aspects of fertility—which ethnicities have the most kids?
Industrialized Countries
Current fertility levels are so low, in some countries, without immigration, population will seriously decline
Japan: avg. # kids is 1.39; Italy: 1.2 Some European countries give tax
incentives for children Life expectancy is increasing as
fertility is dropping—people staying around longer
Happening more slowly in US—immigration
Scary Demography
95% of all future population growth will be in developing nations
Muslim, African, and South American countries are growing fastest
India and China continue to grow—they contain 1/3 of the world’s population in 2 countries
Over ½ Pakistan’s population is under 16
Results Growing gap between rich and poor
1 billion people live on less than $500 a year; concentrated in Africa, Latin America, and Asia
Growing gap within nations as well; regional The wealthiest 1% in the US own 30% of the nation’s
wealth; our poorest live on less than $5000 a year Environmental threats from population boom;
agricultural and industrial expansion Developing countries hit hardest with this, forcing
industrialization Efforts to improve environment have been
moderately successful in developed countries Collapse—Jared Diamond strikes back…
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