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Population and Urban Life: Trends, Issues, and Impacts

This chapter explores the study of population, including fertility, mortality, and migration, as well as the effects of population growth on social structure and the environment. It also examines urbanization and the challenges faced by different areas of residence.

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Population and Urban Life: Trends, Issues, and Impacts

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  1. Chapter 15 Population and Urban Life

  2. Chapter Outline • Populations, Large and Small • Population and Social Structure: Two Examples • Population and Social Problems: Two Examples • Population in the United States • Urbanization • Place of Residence and Social Relationships

  3. Population • The study of population is known as demography. • Demographers focus on fertility, mortality, and migration. • Currently, the world population is 6.3 billion, 2 1/2 times as many people as lived in 1950. • World population has grown because fertility has increased while life spans have lengthened and mortality has decreased.

  4. Understanding Population Growth • Population growth and change can be understood only if we use statistical summaries of human experience. • Three measures are especially important: • crude birthrate • crude deathrate • the rate of natural increase

  5. World Population Picture, 2003

  6.  The Demographic Transition • Decline in mortality in the West was related to better nutrition and sanitation. • Decline in fertility was probably related, for the most part, to changes in values and life styles.

  7. Ghana: A Case Study • The crude birth rate is about 34 and the crude death rate is around 10. • Women who do not bear at least four children are not valued. • Society cannot maintain schools, sanitation systems, or an adequate infrastructure under such great populations pressures.

  8. Europe: Is Fertility Too Low? Four areas of concern: • Fear of “population suicide.” • Excess in the proportion of older people, involving increased expenses related to social services. • Shortages in the labor force. • Nationalistic fears related to low resources.

  9. Fertility and Population Growth in Europe, 2003

  10. Fertility Decline in World Regions, 1950-2003

  11. Population and social Problems • Despite the fact that fertility is declining in every part of the world, the population of the world will double within 50 or so years anyway. • Population pressures can contribute to numerous social problems including: • environmental devastation • poverty

  12. Population in the United States • Fertility per woman is about 2.1. • Most people who live to age 65 can expect to live another 15 or 20 years. • Immigration accounts for an increase of about one million people per year.

  13. Changing Composition of U.S.Population

  14. Internal Migration in the U.S. Three trends: • People are migrating from northern states into the Sunbelt states of the South. • People are leaving the inner cities for the suburbs. • People are moving to rural areas and small towns. 

  15. Results of Internal Migration • Urbanization of poverty as those left behind are more often economically disadvantaged. • Declining tax base, especially in urban areas. • Environmental hazards related to automobiles required for commuting from the suburbs to the urban cores.

  16. Urbanization Trends 1950–2025

  17. Urbanization Trends 1950–2025

  18.  Theories of Urban Growth • Structural functional theory - urban development is seen as evolutionary and functional. • Conflict perspective - finds nothing natural in urban growth and decline.

  19. Theoretical Views of Urbanism • Urban determinism - urban living leads to a breakdown of everyday life. • Compositional model - neighborhoods within cities compose little worlds that have no particular ill effects. • Subcultural view - some communities require a critical mass found only in cities.

  20. Suburban Problems • Housing costs have escalated beyond the means of many would-be suburbanites. • Weak governments are ineffective in dealing with ill-considered zoning regulations. • Higher population densities are producing increased traffic congestion.

  21. Suburban Problems • Excessive dependency on automobiles. • Social isolation and alienation may accompany the life of commuters who come home to housing that discourages interaction among neighbors.

  22. Small Town and Rural Living • 25% of Americans live in small towns or rural settings. • Attracted by affordable housing, low crime rates, lots of open space, and a measure of freedom from the infamous “rat race.” 

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