2025 APHG Unit 2: Ch. 4

Rate of Natural Increase (RNI)

rate at which a population grows due to the difference between the crude birth rate and the crude death rate

Doubling Time (DT)

the number of years in which a population growing at a certain rate of natural increase would double

Malthus Theory

theory that exponential population growth will outpace the increase in food production

Overpopulation

condition in which population growth exceeds the carrying capacity

Malthus Critic (Boserup Theory)

theory that population growth increases food production because of innovation

Neo-Malthusian (Ehrlich Theory)

theory that population growth is unsustainable and the future population cannot be supported by Earth’s resources

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

a model that represents shifts in the growth of the world’s populations based on population trends related to birth rate and death rate

Epidemiological Transition Model (ETM)

a model that describes changes in fertility, mortality, life expectancy, and population age distribution as the result of changes in causes of death

Anti-Natalist Policy

policy that discourages childbearing to limit population growth

Pro-Natalist Policy

policy that encourages childbearing to increase population growth

Land Degradation

long-term damage to the soil’s ability to support life

Demographic Momentum

tendency for a population to continue to grow after a fertility decline because a large cohort of young people is entering their childbearing years