(Population Control) Geo 2024

Unit 3

Why might population need to be controlled?

• It will run out of food → may this lead to a famine or starvation? 

• Exhaust world’s resources → do we see examples of this? (yes)

• Not being able to build enough structures 

• Homelessness 

• Shantytowns 

• Diseases 

What causes high birth rates?

• Tradition 

• Children needed to work - especially in poorer areas (i.e. children needed to work on parents farm)

• High rates of infant mortality 

• Religious reasons

• Needed for military defence  

• Can't access contraceptives → cost, availability 

• Lack of alternative lifestyles for women - e.g. no education, early marriage, inequality, illiteracy rate

Limiting Births- EX. Case Studies

1. India: 

   Control Method: 

   • Family planning marketing (doctors get incentives for surgery performed (sterilization)

   • Forced sterilization 

   • Increased incentives to get an abortion

   • Forcing birth control after 2nd child 

   • Incentives such as cars, motorbikes and other incentives to get an abortion or sterilized

Promoting Births- EX. Case Studies

1. 2. Japan

   • Authorities have put a series of measures such as the Angel Plan (1994), the New Angel Plan (1999) and the Plus One Policy (2009) to assist and encourage young couples to have children

   • Tokyo’s residents receive incentives such as a payment of $1700 per birth 

   • Another one gives $940 for the first birth and 10x as much for the fourth baby