Population Issues

Carrying capacity

Maximum size of population an environment can sustain

Demographic trap

High fertility rates and declining death rates, leading to unsustainable population growth

Girl effect

Positive societal and economic impacts when girls are educated and empowered

Resource exhaustion

Depletion of natural resources due to population growth and unsustainable practices

Dowry system

The bride’s family provides goods and/or property to a groom’s family as apart of a marriage agreement

Bouge (scientist)

Theory of “demographic regulation”

• Over time society naturally increases or limits it's population, as needed

Catton (scientist)

Addition to Malthus’ theories

• Phantom carrying capacity: Population is using non-renewable resources and won't be enough for future generations

• Overshoot theory: Environmental damage and neo-Malthusian checks

Malthus (scientist)

Population grows at a geometric rate, food production at an arithmetic rate

• Preventative checks: Birth control, family planning, abstinence will limit birth rates

• Positive checks: Natural disasters will regulate population size (war, famine, etc.)

Cornucopian

Continued progress will mean that there will always be enough provisions to support a growing population

One child policy

To prevent rapid and unsustainable population growth, families are only permitted to have one child

Demographic momentum

Population continuing to grow even after fertility rates decline to or below replacement level

Expansive vs. stationary pyramids

• Expansive pyramids: high number of younger people, high birth rates and mortality rates

• Stationary pyramids: Equal porportion of the population in each age group

Baby shock

Sudden and unexpected change in fertility rates after external events such as war or natural disaster

Birth dearth

Sustained decline in fertility rates

Human capital

Collective skills, health, knowledge and abilities of a population; contribute to economic productivity and social well-being of a population

Preventative checks vs. positive checks

• Preventative checks: Birth control, family planning, and abstinence will limit birth rates

• Positive checks: Natural disasters will regulate population size (war, famine, etc.)