1. Population Explosion and Control
Unit 3: Human Population
Population Explosion and Control

2. The Population Explosion
In post-transition, pop. Stabilizes or declines
Here, they experience economic benefits and social growth
Too Many People: The Demographic Trap
Demographic trap: When birth rates stay high, combined with declining death rates causing large increase in pop., threatening economic and social dev’t
Overpopulation: Demands of growing pop. exceeds a country’s carrying capacity

3. The Population Explosion
Too Many People: The Demographic Trap
FOOD
The Green Revolution (1940s-70s) gave developing countries improved crop yields b/c of agricultural innovations and new crop varieties
From , doubled its rice and wheat production, but eventually slowed in the 90s b/c of a lack of innovations
As India’s pop. grows, its cropland per capita diminishes

4. The Population Explosion
Too Many People: The Demographic Trap
EDUCATION
Edu. allows a country to experience demographic transition, but pop. explosions inhibit educating individuals
EMPLOYMENT
Pop. Explosions put stress on job markets and increase unemployment rates
This creates a feedback loop, where agricultural econ. can’t support pop. booms, so ppl. move to cities, but lack the edu. to work in high skilled jobs in urban centres, which in turn slows urban economy

5. Population Control
Population control: Limitation of pop. growth through contraception, sterilization, abortion
India’s Approach to Population Control
Growth rate in India has remained the same since the 1950s
India’s pop. was stable until 1921 when sanitation, famine, and epidemic programs were taken

6. Population Control India’s Approach to Population Control
What Has Been the Impact of India’s Population Policies?
India has gone through 6 population phases
Female sterilization is the most common pop. control method
A gender gap now exists preferring boys over girls
Boys can work on farms, stay at home after marriage, and take care of their parents

7. Population Control India’s Approach to Population Control
What Has Been the Impact of India’s Population Policies?
In the mid 80s, abortion of female fetuses became more common compared to female infanticide
Since 1994, awareness efforts have been made to prevent female infanticide
Today, men have greater difficulties finding wives

8. Population Control China’s Approach to Population Control
Great Leap Forward: Plan to transform China’s agriculture from small individual farms to large communal farms, and develop heavy industry to create a modern industrialized communist state
One-child policy: Designed in 1979 to reduce China’s pop. growth rate by restricting most couples to one child

9. Population Control
How Successful Are the Population Policies of India and China
Pop. growth rates have decreased, but more so in China
India will surpass China’s pop. by 2025, while China enters post-transition

10. Population Control China’s Approach to Population Control
What Has Been the Impact of China’s Population Policies?
One-child policy was successful in curbing pop. growth, but created other issues
Gender gap is increasing
Now, girls have become more valued as a result

11. The Future of Population Control
International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) aims to develop policies to help countries through demographic transition, while developing their economies
Provide a plan for social and econ. dev‘t leading to lower fertility rates
Culture, economics, and religion make it difficult to implement policies

12. Chapter 6 Assignment Read the Case Study on p. 92-96
How did Kerala control it’s population?