Impacts of population change and why sustainable development is

important

1. Social, economic and political impacts of population change

Developed Country (MEDC) Developing Country (LEDC)

Social

Economic

Political

Read the cards in the envelope and see if you can workout where each one fits!

LO: Impacts of population change and why sustainable development is important

A. Social

• In developing countries (LEDC’s) as the population grows, there is a greater demand on resources (food, clean water, housing, etc.) This means that some people will miss out on the essentials of life.

• In developed countries (MEDC’s) life expectancy is increasing and birth rates are falling. This means that;1. More people require pensions 2. Fewer people are working and paying taxes 3. More care homes and staff (doctors, nurses, etc.) will be

needed.

LO: Impacts of population change and why sustainable development is important

B. Economic

• In developed counties (MEDC’s) the cost of raising a child today is estimated to be £150,000. This means that parents are put off having a lot of children due to the costs.

• In developing countries (LEDC’s) children often help with work (often on farms) or they can earn money. Parents then use the money to help bring up the children. They also suffer economically as the most successful leave to go to an MEDC to do the same job but to be paid a lot more, ‘Brian Drain’LO: Impacts of population change and why sustainable development is important

C. Political

• In developed countries (MEDC’s), governments need to make sure that the population of their country is not in decline (due to its impact economically) so will often use migration to ‘top up’ the population if needs be.

• In developing countries (LEDC’s) the birth rate is high and this means that the government needs to provide more schools and hospitals. This means that governments need to plan for these services and need to pay for them too. LO: Impacts of population change and why sustainable development is important

2. Need for sustainable population development

2. Need for sustainable population development

• Sustainable population is when the population grows at a rate that does not threaten past/future generations.

• This applies to countries that are in stage 3/4/5 of the DTM. • Stages 2 and 3 of the Butler Model/DTM are unsustainable

as the population is rising too quickly (problems of schools and hospitals). Stage 5 will also mean further problems (too few paying tax, more spending on Pensions and healthcare).

• Having a sustainable population will mean that a country will/will not avoid too many social, economic and political problems.

LO: Impacts of population change and why sustainable development is important

Different birth control strategies for developing countries

• Different countries can adopt different polices that have an impact on the population;

LO: Impacts of population change and why sustainable development is important

CASE STUDY: ‘Non Birth Control’ in Kerala, India

• Kerala is a state in southern India.• In Kerala the local government has introduced

a non control method based on social change.

LO: Impacts of population change and why sustainable development is important

• Video here and here

Homework

• Use p184-5 and your notes to produce a poster on how the birth rate in Kerala has decreased.

• Remember to focus on social change.

LO: Impacts of population change and why sustainable development is important

Final question …

Imagine you are in charge of a small groups of people on a tropical island, how would you try

to control the population of your island if it was getting out of control?

LO: Impacts of population change and why sustainable development is important