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Chp . 2 Population. Why might the World Face an Overpopulation Problem?. Thomas Malthus . 1766-1834: one of the first to argue that world’s rate of population increase was outrunning development of food supplies
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Chp. 2 Population Why might the World Face an Overpopulation Problem?
Thomas Malthus • 1766-1834: one of the first to argue that world’s rate of population increase was outrunning development of food supplies • Argued that population growth would press available resources until “moral restraint” lowered CBR or disease, famine, war, disasters raised CDR
Malthus Influence Today • Argued that two characteristics of recent population growth make Malthus’s thesis more frightening today • He didn’t account for the rapid population growth of poorer countries—wider gap than he anticipated between population growth and food production • World population is outgrowing not only food production, but other resources as well
Critics of Malthus • Unrealistically pessimistic because supply of resources is not fixed, its expanding (possibilism) • Population growth could stimulate economic growth (and thus food production, more consumers, more ideas) • More people=more brains • Marxists argue no cause-effect relationship between population and economic development—problems exist due to unjust social and economic institutions
Malthus and Reality • Conditions in last 50 years have not supported his theory • Even though population is growing at faster rate, food production has grown faster than NIR • Food production has increased more rapidly than Malthus predicted • Many people don’t have access to the food grown, but not a problem with production like Malthus thought
Declining Birth Rates • CBR has decreased rapidly since 1990 from 27 to 21 (world) and in LDCs from 31 to 23 • Two successful strategies in reducing CBR: • Emphasis on economic development (ie Women working) • Distribution of contraceptives and medical technologies • Most effective strategy depends on culture and country
World Health Threats • Epidemiologic transition—focuses on the distinct causes of death in each stage of demographic transition • Stage 1: pestilence and famine • Infectious and parasitic diseases principle cause of human deaths • Ex. Black Plague • Stage 2: Receding Pandemic • Improved sanitations, nutrition, medicine (Industrial Revolution)
World Health Threats • Stage 3- degenerative and human-created diseases • Decrease infectious disease, increase in chronic disorders associated with ageing • Stage 4- delayed degenerative diseases • Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, etc. • Stage 5- reemergence of infectious and parasitic diseases • Some people think this is just a setback and not a new stage • Evolution of diseases • Poverty • Improved travel (easier for diseases to diffuse
AIDS • Most lethal epidemic of recent years • Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome • Killed more than 25 million people as of 2007 • 90% of people living with HIV come from LDCs • Has lowered the life expectancy of sub-Saharan Africa