Study Guide: Population

 

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Readings:


Instructor Presentations:

Population

Hyper-industrialism

Glossary:
fecundity exponential growth density
doubling time dependency theory infant mortality rate
demographic transition Malthusianism crude birthrate
demography zero population growth immigration
migration crude deathrate emigration
fertility air pollution carrying capacity
mortality rate eutrophication life expectancy

 

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Please Note:
bullet Population density and consequences
bullet Demographic transition (and U.S.) (and Third World)
bullet Doubling time (and calculation)
bullet Causes of population growth
bullet Demographic transition (and stages)
bullet World population (rough history)
bullet Working women and population growth
bullet Characteristics of future increase (Third World; Young; Urban; Poor)
bullet Consequences of poverty

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Names to Know:

T. Robert Malthus  

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Practice Quiz

 

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Essay Questions:

  1. According to Bender and Smith (Population, Food, and Nutrition), why are there so many starving or malnourished people in the world when we produce so much food?

  2. What solution do Bender and Smith propose to expand agricultural production so that it keeps pace with population growth? Do you think these solutions are adequate?

  3. What are the mechanics behind exponential growth of population?

  4. Outline the demographic transition. What are some of the reasons why the death rate drops in Stage II of the demographic transition? Why are birthrates remaining high in many Third World countries?

  5. What bearing does rapid population growth have on international relations?

  6. Discuss the relationship between population and production.

  7. What are the characteristics of recent (and future) population growth?  How do these characteristics affect social problems?

  8. Your instructor (F. Elwell) claims that we can never truly solve the population problem.  Explain what he means by this.

  9. In accordance with Bradshaw and Wallace (An Unequal World), briefly describe three forms of inequality that exist around the world.  Of these forms of inequality, which one do you think should be addressed first?

  10. Go to the library or use the Internet to locate more recent data on population growth, inequality, and mortality.  How has this data changed in recent years?

 

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Links:

T. Robert Malthus' Home Page

Office of Population Research

The Population Institute

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Bibliography:

Brown, Lester R. Nicholas Lenssen, and Hal Kane.  1995.  Vital Signs:  The Trends That Are Shaping Our Future 1995-1996.  The WorldWatch Institute.

Brubaker, W. (ed.)  1989.  Immigration and the Politics of Citizenship in Europe and North America. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America.

Bulatao, R. and Lee, R. (eds)  1983. Determinants of Fertility in Developing Countries.  2 vols. New York: Academic Press.

Cardoso, F. H. and Faletto, E.  1979. Dependency and Development in Latin America.  Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press.

Hardoy, J. E. and Satterthwaite, D.  1989.  Squatter Citizen: Life in the Urban Third World. London: Earthscan Publications.

Heilbroner, Robert.  [1974] 1980.  An Inquiry Into the Human Prospect, Updated and Reconsidered for the 1980s.  New York:  W.W. Norton.

Shryrock, H. and Siegel, J.  1976.  The Methods and Materials of Demography.  New York: Academic Press.

Sklair, L.  1991.  Sociology of the Global System.  Hemel Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheaf.

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Continuously updated. ©Frank Elwell