Population, Urbanism, And The Environment Chapter 21 Population, Urbanism, And The Environment

Chapter Outline Demography and the U.S. Census Diversity and Three Basic Demographic Processes Population Characteristics Theories of Population Growth Checking Population Growth Urbanism Ecology and the Environment Globalization: Population and Environment in the Twenty-First Century

Three Demographic Processes The total number of people in a society at any given moment is determined by: Births Deaths Migrations

Births The crude birth rate for the entire world is about 27.1 births per thousand people. The crude birth rate for the U.S. is about 16 births per thousand people. Minority groups tend to have higher birth rates than Whites.

 Deaths In the U.S. poverty and minority status result in lowered life expectancy and increased infant mortality. The U.S. ranks near the bottom among Western nations with a life expectancy of 76.2. Women around the world experience higher life expectancy than men.

 Deaths The lower one's social class, the less one's life expectancy, regardless of gender. Minority group individuals, especially African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans, have lower life expectancies and higher infant mortality than Whites.

 Migration Current migration patterns in the U.S. have resulted in an increase of people of color in urban and suburban areas. Large portions of populations, such as the underclass, remain stuck in central cities.

 Malthusian Theory Idea that population grows faster than the subsistence needed. Predicted uncontrolled population growth checked by famine, disease, and war.

Malthusian Theory Three revolutionary developments that derailed the cycle of growth and catastrophe: Technological advances in agriculture Medical control of disease Development and widespread use of contraceptives

Demographic Transition Theory Three stages to population change Stage 1 - high birthrate and high death rate. Stage 2 - High birthrate and lower death rate Stage 3 - low birthrate and low death rate

Zero Population Growth The environment is a critical factor in the growth and health of populations. Many of the predictions have been realized. Despite advances, worldwide population growth is still out of control. Advocates policies promoting zero population growth to reach population replacement level.

Theories of  Urbanism Simmel - urban life leads individuals to become insensitive and avoid emotional involvement. Wirth - the city is a center of distant, cold interpersonal interaction. Gans - many city residents develop strong loyalties and have a sense of community.

Race, Class, and the Suburbs 1/4 of African Americans live in suburban areas, where sub-groupings tend to form based on class and race. Racial segregation, promoted by landlords, homeowners, and realtors, persists in suburban neighborhoods and schools.

Human Ecology and the Environment Any society is an ecosystem with interdependent forces: human populations natural resources the environment

Human Ecology and the Environment Depletion of a natural resource affects other parts of the ecosystem. Toxic waste dumps are often at or very near areas with high concentration of minorities. In the past three decades, federal and local agencies have made concerted efforts to bring environmental pollution under control.

Population and Environment in the 21st Century The UNDP estimates that the world population will stabilize at 10 billion, with a high estimate of as much as 14 billion. The U.S. will continue to experience increasing suburban development, heavy industry, and additional pollution.