Chapter 15 (Population and Environment)

Demography: The scientific study of population that draws upon several composition and territorial distribution to understand the social consequences of population changes, including issues related to resource allocation, economic development, and environmental sustainability.

Thomas Malthus: Malthus was an academic in the 18th century who is best known for his theories on population growth and his book “Essays on the Principles of Population”(1798). He famously arguing that population tends to increase exponentially while resources grow arithmetically, leading to inevitable shortages and societal challenges. He started that food supply grows arithmetically, which means that it increases by fixed amounts over time, while the population could double in a short period, thus creating a disparity between the two. This concept has led to ongoing debates about the limits of population growth and the capacity of the earth to sustain its inhabitants.

Marx’s Reaction to Malthus: Karl Marx criticized him by arguing that capitalism, rather than growing population was a driver of social ills. Marx’s felt that efforts devoted to properly ordering resources distribution would suit any population size. The arguments of both Malthus and Marx regarding population/ resources issues have come together in what is termed the Neo- Malthusian view.

Anti-Malthusians: Argue innovations create new resources/ ways of aquring resources more affordably. They feel technology can allow production of things in new ways and in areas that were previously not possible, potentially allowing resources to grow at a similar or even fasted pace than population

Population Pyramids: are a commonly used tool in the social sciences to offer quick analysis of a countries population and thus make basic projections for future demographics possible.

Migration: Along with births and deaths, migration is one of the factors that affect population growth or decline. Migration refers to the relatively permanent movement of people with the purpose of changing their place of residence. Can be international or internal with the U.S having rates of both. The predominant directions of recent U.S growth has been to the South and to the West.

Human Ecology vs Ecological Modernization: Human ecology is the study of the interrelationships between people and their environment. Many in this framework take on a conflict theory perspective that stresses that alters in environment. Ecological Modernization focuses on the alignment of environmentally favorable practices with economic self-interest through constant adaptation and restructuring.