Population Change and Management Quiz

Answer: When the birth rate of a country exceeds the death rate

Over the past few decades, natural increase in more economically developed countries (MEDCs) has been replaced by zero growth, or in some Eastern European countries by natural decrease, where the death rate exceeds the birth rate. This fall in birth rate is due to a variety of reasons, including advances in agriculture and medicine.

Answer: An increase in natural disasters

Birth rate has been falling because of agricultural improvements, as fewer children are needed to work on family farms; urbanisation, as children's labour is not as desirable or of such a high value in the cities; improvements in education, as parents with fewer children have more money to spend on the education of each one; and the emancipation of women, as increasing equality means that women aim higher in their careers and delay having children, so have fewer.

Answer: Brazil, Kenya, India

The Demographic Transition Model is a a diagram that shows changes in population over time. It is divided into five stages.
At Stage 3 in the DMT, birth rate is beginning to drop rapidly as birth control is more readily available and having large families has become an economic disadvantage. Standards of living are beginning to improve with advances in industry and healthcare. Countries in stage 3 at the moment are many Newly Industrialising Countries, for example Brazil, Kenya, and India. The UK entered Stage 3 in around 1880, and entered Stage 4 in the 1940s.

Answer: The balance between males and females in a population

Gender structure is the balance between males and females of all ages in a population.

A good way of illustrating gender balance is as a population pyramid. Males are represented on one side of the graph and females are represented on the other, with a central vertical axis showing age groups. Pyramids with a wide base and narrow apex have a high birth rate but also have high infant and child mortality rates. This type of pyramid is typical of Stage 1 and 2 populations, for example rain-forest Amazonian tribes or war-torn societies such as Afghanistan. A pyramid with straight, rounded sides can show a steady, low birth rate, such as that of a Stage 4 country.

Answer: Government workers were allowed two children

Even under the changes to the policy in the 1990s, goverment workers were expected to set an example and have only one child.
Although many couples travelled abroad (for example to Hong Kong) to have a second child, a second child born abroad would not be granted Chinese citizenship.
The policy was introduced in 1979 after the population boomed and a terrible famine was forecast. Couples were not allowed to marry until their late twenties or have more than one successful pregnancy. If they followed the rules they were given extra housing and educational benefits, but if they disobeyed they would have a ten percent salary cut, a large fine and their benefits would be revoked.

Answer: Racial minorities

Racial minorities were in danger of becoming unsustainable if they followed the One-Child Policy, so they did not have to follow the policy. Agricultural workers who needed sons to help work on the land were also allowed a second child if their first child was female.

Answer: Standards of living have increased

There are still major problems with China's population, as half the population still live on less than two dollars per day.
The policy raised many ethical issues, put pressure on women and took away personal choice, but it has also created problems for modern society. Sons were preferred over daughters, leading many people to place their daughters in poorly-run orphanages in the hope of having a son in the next pregnancy. Because of this there is a huge gender imbalance and many young men will not be able to get married as is traditional in Chinese society. Many young couples are solely responsible for four elderly parents, which is a huge burden. Because of this, the policy has changed to allow couples who are both only children to have two children.
However, the previously forecast famine has not materialised, so in some ways the policy is a success. Having fewer children has meant that women have achieved more in their careers, so Chinese parents are more open to the idea of having a daughter.

Answer: A non-birth control policy

Kerala, a south-western state of India, is an example of a non-birth control policy. Since the 1950s the socialist government of Kerala has focused on social changes in addition to birth control to promote smaller families and encourage equality between males and females.

These changes mean that although Kerala makes up 3.4 percent of India's population it has an extremely low growth rate and is at Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model (the same stage as most of North America and Europe) which is very unusual for a region of the developing world.

Answer: Using "granny police" to put pressure on women

Kerala's population policy involves providing adult literacy classes and free libraries in both central and remote towns and villages, improving education standards, promoting equality and educating people so that they understand the benefits of smaller families.

The status of women has improved and now more Keralan females go to university than Keralan males. There is also a drive to improve child health and reduce infant mortality through vaccination programs so that people no longer need to have large families. Maternity leave is granted for the first two pregnancies only and additional benefits are granted to people with fewer children. Land has been redistributed equally to encourage sustainability.

Answer: Working people and people who are not working

The dependency ratio is the number of people who are dependent on others (for example the elderly, the disabled and children) compared to the number of people who are working. If the dependency ratio is 40, that means that every 100 working people are supporting themselves and an additional 40 dependents. If the dependency ratio is low, the balance between workers and dependents is almost equal, therefore the population is more stable. An ageing population where there is a high proportion of elderly people can lead to an unfavourable dependency ratio, as every 100 working people have to support a large number of dependents.

Answer: Increased demand for healthcare, social services and pensions

The problems of ageing societies include increased pressure on services such as healthcare and pensions which can cause economic and political problems for the government. There are issues with the dependency ratio, as there are fewer working people to provide for the elderly and very young.

However, living longer means that people enjoy a longer retirement period, and many take part in leisure activities including sports clubs, craft, and book groups, improving their quality of life. Many older people undertake voluntary work for charities, and most have a lot to add to society.

Answer: Salary cuts for people without children

France's current population policy is pro-natal, so it encourages people to have a larger number of children in order to create a more favourable dependency ratio. France does this by allowing three years of paid leave that can be taken by mothers or fathers, full-time, government schooling from the age of three and benefits including early retirement for women who have had many children.

This has had some success, although natural increase is still falling.

Answer: Poor harvest and limited agricultural work

Reasons that might make someone move away from an area are known as push factors. An example of a push factor is a poor harvest, war or a natural disaster such as a flood or famine. Reasons that might make someone move to another area are known as pull factors. An example of a pull factor is an economic reason, such as the ability to make more money elsewhere, or a reason influencing quality of life, such as an improved education or better housing elsewhere.

Answer: When money is sent back to the migrants' country of origin, the host country's economy does not benefit

Migration can have many benefits, for both the migrants and the host country. The host country benefits from an influx of skilled workers, who boost the economy in the long-term. Both migrants and citizens of the host country have a greater understanding of different cultures. However, there can be problems.

Answer: Money can be sent home to their families

Racial prejudice and overstretched services can sometimes lead to resentment between the citizens of the host country and migrants. Demand for housing means that prices rise, and when migrants bring their families there can be too great a demand for school places and social services.

Some people feel that immigrants take jobs from the natives, although immigrants are often prepared to do menial jobs that are not done by natives.

Answer: Immigrants are entering a new country with the intention of settling there, emigrants are leaving their origin country to live elsewhere

Immigrant: someone entering a new country with the intention of settling and potentially working there. Emigrant: someone who leaves their origin country to settle elsewhere.

Answer: 600,000

After Poland and several other Eastern European countries joined the European Union (EU) in 2004, an influx of workers came to Western Europe to search for a better lifestyle and improved standard of living. Around 600,000 immigrants moved to the UK and around 447,000 of these people were Polish. Eastern European immigrants in the UK are able to earn more than they could in the their origin countries as the UK economy is stronger, and the money they earn by working a menial job in the UK can buy much more in an Eastern European country. Most migrants in the UK pay taxes and many are skilled workers who add a considerable value to the UK's economy.

However, immigrants use the healthcare, education and social services of the UK, and some work as part of the informal economy so do not pay tax.

Answer: Changing racial structure

The influx of immigrants to the UK and many other countries has changed the racial structure radically. Europe currently receives more immigrants than any other world region, and about 8.6 percent of the EU's residents were born abroad. The regions from which immigrants have emigrated are changing, as immigrants send money back to their origin country and its economy strengthens, providing more opportunities at home, meaning that people do not feel the need to move elsewhere for economic reasons. Many people argue that immigrants are necessary to maintain Europe's population and keep it sustainable, as a falling birth rate will one day result in a lack of workers.

Answer: Funds sent back to the origin have helped small communities to develop basic services

Migration of males between the ages of eighteen and forty from Senegal to Italy is a well-established pattern that has resulted in some basic improvements in the origin country. However, the land is still unsuitable for the subsistence farming that people used to rely on and crime rates and unemployment are high.

Many children grow up without their fathers at home which can exacerbate the existing social problems.

Answer: A person who is at risk if they stay in their origin country

Asylum seekers are often vilified because due to restrictions imposed by the government on the number of economic migrants allowed to enter the UK, many economic migrants claimed to be asylum seekers in order to have a better chance of being allowed to live in the UK.

In the past, the EU has taken many refugees: after the Bosnian war, and from Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan. Unfortunately the process of acceptance can take a long time due to the false claims by economic migrants.