demographics and migrations

hunter-gatherers

• low food security (frequent food shortages) = didn’t allow for much population growth

• land was not used efficiently

• the birth of seed storage

agricultural revolution

• created a food surplus because it increased the Earth’s carrying capacity

• more time devoted to ideas and trade rather than food gathering

industrial revolution

• More energy (steam, thermal, wind, hydro) = higher carrying capacity

• Industrial jobs = better pay → more kids

• More food = healthier, longer lives

• Cities = better healthcare, schools, housing

• More people needed for work and buying stuff

hans rosling

ending poverty is crucial to stopping population growth

bogue

population growth is primarily determined by social norms and cultural factors that influence fertility and mortality rates

malthus

• population growth, if unchecked, will inevitably outpace the production of food and other resources

• leading to a "Malthusian catastrophe" characterized by famine, disease, and war

catton

• If the carrying capacity is exceeded then environmental damage will occur, and this in time will reduce the carrying capacity and lead to resource depletion

birth rate

• the number of births in a country for every thousand people in the population

• over 30 is considered high, and under 15 is considered low

• number of birth/population x 1000

death rate

• the number of deaths in a country for every thousand people in the population

• over 30 is high, under 15 is low

• number of deaths/population x 1000

natural increase

• the difference between a country’s births rate and death rate

• a LDC has over 2% while a MDC might have less than 1%

• birth rate - death rate

immigration rate

• measures the number of people who permanently move to a country

• number of immigrants/population x 1000

emigration rate

• deals with the number of people who permanently leave a country

• number of emigrants/population x 1000

net migration

• the difference between the immigration and emigration rate

• immigration rate - emigration rate

population growth rate

• the rate at which a country’s population is changing

• natural increase + net migration

rule of 70

• a simple way to estimate how long it would take for a country’s population to double

• 70/population growth (as a %)

infant mortality rate

• the number of children in a country who die in the first year

• over 50 is high, under 15 is low

• number of baby deaths/population x 1000

total fertility rate

• average number of children that each woman will have in her fertile years

• number of births/number of women aged 15-45 × 1000

dependency load

• the burden placed on a working-age population by those who are economically dependent, such as children and the elderly

• those under 15, 65 and over

working adults

• individuals aged 15 to 65

• actively employed or seeking employment, contributing to the economy and supporting dependents

baby boomers

• born from 1946 to 1964

• after WWII

• known as the "baby boom," was influenced by a combination of economic prosperity, returning soldiers, and a desire to start families

baby bust

• a low fertility rate causing a population decline

• effects: family structure (smaller), larger aging population, pension plan problems, labour shortages

stage 1 - pre-industrial

• birth and death rates are high and uncontrolled

• population growth is slow and fluctuating

• due to: lack of family planning and health care, poor living conditions

stage 2 - transitional

• a decline in DR, BR remains high so the population begins to increase (population explosion)

• due to: technological advances (better healthcare, improvements in agriculture)

stage 3 - industrial

• BR starts to fall, while DR continues to fall, resulting in slower population growth

• due to: family planning, employment + education for women, urbanization, industrial revolution created more need for workers and labour laws

stage 4 - post industrial

• low and steady BR and DR, causes population growth to slow

• due to: role of women continuing to change, delaying childbirth, consumer society

stage 5 - declining growth

• low BR and DR = the birth dearth

• resulting in a stable or declining population size

• many older people, declining pop could cause a loss of culture and reduction of environmental impact

demographic trap

• High birth rates + falling death rates = rapid population growth

• Growth exceeds carrying capacity → risk of Malthusian collapse

• Strains resources (food, water, jobs) and slows development

• Common in less developed countries

anthropocene

• Era marked by human impact on Earth

• Features: fossil fuel use, sea level rise, globalization, extinction, urbanization

• Examples: climate change, deforestation, ocean acidification, greenhouse gases

india and china population control

• India

  • Pushed vasectomy, 3-child limit, and forced sterilizations

  • Backlash ended coercion → focus on education, voluntary contraception

  • Fertility now matches developed nations

  China

  • 1-child policy caused gender gap, aging population

  • shifted → couples: 2, married: 3

  • Issues: too few workers, marriage imbalance, reports of forced sterilization

kerala

• achieved low birth and death rates without high levels of industrialization or wealth

• driven by high literacy rates (especially for women), progressive policies, and modern family ideals

migrants

• move from one country to another permanently

• can be voluntary, forced, legal, or illegal

push and pull factors

• push - housing prices, family, weather, war, famine

• pull - affordable living, job opportunities, education

• barriers - immigration process, costs of moving, language

effects of migration

• brain drain - loss of highly education people from a country due to emigration

• remittance - amount of money sent by a migrant to family members living in the migrant’s homeland

arrival cities

• Migration and Informal Settlements:
  Rural migrants often settle in informal city neighborhoods upon arrival.

  • Hukou System (China):
    China’s hukou system classifies people by birthplace (rural or urban), limiting migration and access to services, which deepens social inequality.

refugees

• Refugees: Flee due to war, violence, poverty, or disasters

• 12+ million live in camps without shelter or protection

• Often settle in neighboring countries of conflict zones

• Turkey and Iran host the most refugees

• Poland, Hungary, Germany, and Czech Republic host most Ukrainian refugees

globalization

• Globalization: Interaction of world regions economically, politically, and socially

• Driven by technology and communication

• Impacts trade, migration, jobs, ideas, and knowledge

friedman globalization

• "The World Is Flat":
  Technological advances have "leveled the playing field," allowing individuals and companies around the world to compete more equally.

• Globalization 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0:
  Friedman divides globalization into three phases:

  • 1.0 (1492–1800): Countries globalizing (colonial powers)

  • 2.0 (1800–2000): Companies globalizing (industrial revolution & multinational corporations)

  • 3.0 (2000–present): Individuals globalizing (driven by the internet and digital tools)

ghemawat globalization

• "World is not flat":
  Ghemawat argues that global integration is often exaggerated—we live in a world that is only semi-globalized.

• "Globaloney":
  He uses this term to describe the myth that borders and distance no longer matter. In reality, most business, communication, and culture still happen locally or regionally.

types of globalization

• Financial: Global markets link cities; prices in one place affect all (e.g., oil).

• Economic: Companies shift production for profit → cheaper goods, job shifts (e.g., GM, Nike).

• Technological: Instant global communication (e.g., TikTok, X).

• Political: Shared global issues = joint policies (e.g., UN, WTO).

• Cultural: Global media spreads shared values and content.

• Ecological: One planet, shared environmental concerns (e.g., climate change).

• Sociological: Rise in global human rights and social norms.

• Geographical: From divided nations to a shared global identity.

how and why dubai embraced globalization

• How:

  • Diversified economy (trade, tourism, finance)

  • Invested in world-class infrastructure (airports, skyscrapers)

  • Created business-friendly policies (tax-free zones)

  • Developed a cosmopolitan, tech-savvy city

• Why:

  • Needed to reduce oil dependency

  • Capitalized on its strategic location

  • Wanted to compete globally in finance and tourism

  • Visionary leadership and global appeal

protectionism

• Protectionism:
  Protecting local industries by taxing imports, imposing tariffs, offering subsidies, and using non-tariff barriers to limit foreign competition.

• Tariffs:
  Taxes on specific imports or exports.

• Quota:
  Limits on the amount of a product that can be produced, exported, or imported under trade agreements.

free trade

• Trade between 3 or more countries without tariffs, quotas, or restrictions. Examples include NAFTA, CETA, and TPP.