1. Population: Part VI (Population Control Policies)
What do countries do when they have too many people, too few people or too many of a certain type of people?

2. How do Governments Affect Population Change?
Many governments institute policies designed to influence the overall growth rate or ethnic ratios within the population.
These policies fall into three groups:
1. Expansive
2. Eugenic
3. Restrictive

3. Expansive Population Policies
Encourage families to have more children
Communist Societies
Soviet Union
China – Mao Zedong
European countries: NOW
Tax incentives
Sweden
Cash payments, tax incentives, job leave, work hour flexibility lasting up to 8 years after birth
Short baby boom, but led to issues

4. Eugenic Population Policies
Favoring one racial or cultural sector of the population over the others
Tax discrimination, allocation of resources, favoritism
Examples
Nazi Germany
Japan?
USA-
Eugenics in United States (California prisons)
Video clip
KKK
Nazism in the United States
Planned Parenthood

5. Restrictive Population Policies
Reducing the rate of natural increase through a range of means
China: “One-child” policy: Income bonuses, Better health care benefits, Better retirement pensions, Priority in housing

6. Solutions to Population Growth
1) Empowerment of Women
2) Diffusion of Birth Control Policies
3) Redistribution of wealth - improve standard of living for poor so that children aren’t as necessary
4) Medical technology – costs of maintaining vulnerable populations
(old & young)
5) Addressing government policies to deal with their growing populations
Question for Discussion…
Is population control funded by MDCs ethical in LDCs? Is it our place to get
involved in other countries and their population issues?