Managing Population Managing Population ChangeChange

Key statements: Key statements: The population of many LEDCs is growing The population of many LEDCs is growing rapidlyrapidly

Governments in LEDCs have tried to Governments in LEDCs have tried to manage population growthmanage population growth LEDC Governments use anti-natalist LEDC Governments use anti-natalist policiespolicies

Examples of Managing Examples of Managing Population in LEDCsPopulation in LEDCs

ChinaChinaThe one child policyThe one child policy

Population ControlPopulation Control

Kerala, Kerala, Southern IndiaSouthern India

Population EducationPopulation Education

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ChinaChina’’s One Child Policys One Child Policy

•Why did China’s Government need to introduce such a drastic scheme?

•What have been the impacts of this type of population control?

•What are some of the long term impacts of a one child policy scheme?

ChinaChina’’s One Child Policys One Child PolicyWhy was it introduced?Why was it introduced?

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Previous Governments had been encouraging Previous Governments had been encouraging couples to have large families to increase the couples to have large families to increase the countrycountry’’s workforce.s workforce.

By the 1970By the 1970’’s Chinas China’’s population was growing s population was growing very quickly – in 1950 it was 1.9% very quickly – in 1950 it was 1.9%

The Government soon realised if this continued The Government soon realised if this continued population growth would be population growth would be unsustainableunsustainable

In 1979, the Chinese government introduced the In 1979, the Chinese government introduced the 'One Child Policy', limiting couples to one child. 'One Child Policy', limiting couples to one child.

This form of 'population control' has caused This form of 'population control' has caused controversy ever since.controversy ever since.

Poorer families in thePoorer families in thecountryside have stronglycountryside have strongly

resisted the 'One Childresisted the 'One ChildPolicy'. They need Policy'. They need children to work the children to work the land, and some have land, and some have

had more children had more children despite the risk of despite the risk of

heavy fines. heavy fines.

ChinaChina’’s One Child Policys One Child PolicyWhat is it?What is it?

But without registration as a citizen, the But without registration as a citizen, the newborn child is doomed to a hidden newborn child is doomed to a hidden life, with no right to education or a life, with no right to education or a decent job.decent job.

In December 2001, the government took steps to soften the In December 2001, the government took steps to soften the policy. Families in rural areas are now officially allowed two policy. Families in rural areas are now officially allowed two children if their first-born child is a girl. Meanwhile, ethnic children if their first-born child is a girl. Meanwhile, ethnic minorities are allowed two or three children because they minorities are allowed two or three children because they represent only a fraction of China's population and often live in represent only a fraction of China's population and often live in hostile environments. hostile environments.

Today, a new fund to help children is paid for by the fines from Today, a new fund to help children is paid for by the fines from couples that break the rules. The Chinese government has also couples that break the rules. The Chinese government has also introduced measures that will improve the position of women by introduced measures that will improve the position of women by giving them more opportunities in education and jobs. giving them more opportunities in education and jobs.

China's population is now 1.3 billion. The Chinese government China's population is now 1.3 billion. The Chinese government argues that without the 'One Child Policy', there could have argues that without the 'One Child Policy', there could have been 320 million more mouths to feed. But education and been 320 million more mouths to feed. But education and health care has also played a part in reducing China's birth rate.health care has also played a part in reducing China's birth rate.

ChinaChina’’s One Child Policys One Child PolicyLong term ImplicationsLong term Implications

The falling birth rate is leading to the The falling birth rate is leading to the population structure becoming population structure becoming

unbalanced between young and old unbalanced between young and old and male and femaleand male and female

What do you think might happen to the What do you think might happen to the population structure in the future?population structure in the future?

ChinaChina’’s One Child Policys One Child PolicyWhat does the future hold?What does the future hold?

Is there an alternative…?Is there an alternative…?

IndiaIndia’’s Population s Population

In March 2001, India's latest census In March 2001, India's latest census revealed a total population of 1.027 revealed a total population of 1.027 billion. billion.

Over the last decade, India's population Over the last decade, India's population has grown by 181 million, the equivalent has grown by 181 million, the equivalent of the entire population of Brazil and of the entire population of Brazil and could become the world's most populated could become the world's most populated country by 2020. country by 2020.

Nevertheless, the rate of population Nevertheless, the rate of population growth in India is falling, and population growth in India is falling, and population policies are changing too. policies are changing too.

Kerala Kerala

Kerala may be one of India’s poorest states but it has experienced the greatest fall in fertility rates. Here women have an average of 2 children, the same level as the UK

KeralaKerala Kerala isnKerala isn’’t a country, but merely a state within India, t a country, but merely a state within India,

but its population is 29 million people!! (larger than but its population is 29 million people!! (larger than Canada's population)Canada's population)

Kerala State has the highest life expectancy in India Kerala State has the highest life expectancy in India (more than 70 years -- a little higher than China's) and (more than 70 years -- a little higher than China's) and the highest rate of literacy in general and female the highest rate of literacy in general and female literacy in particular (considerably higher than China's). literacy in particular (considerably higher than China's).

In the late 1980In the late 1980’’s Kerala's birth rate reached 20 per s Kerala's birth rate reached 20 per 1000 (falling from 44 per 1,000 in the 1950's)1000 (falling from 44 per 1,000 in the 1950's)

Kerala's declining birth rate (estimated at 18 per 1,000 Kerala's declining birth rate (estimated at 18 per 1,000 by 1991). by 1991).

KeralaKerala The moving force has been the desire of Keralan The moving force has been the desire of Keralan

women -- less threatened by child mortality and women -- less threatened by child mortality and more educated than in other poor societies -- to more educated than in other poor societies -- to free themselves from continuous child rearing. free themselves from continuous child rearing.

where gender bias has been overcome through where gender bias has been overcome through expansion of female education and pro-female expansion of female education and pro-female laws of property inheritance for many. laws of property inheritance for many.

It suggests also the importance of education It suggests also the importance of education (especially female education), good health (especially female education), good health services (along with permissive opportunities for services (along with permissive opportunities for family planning) and legal rights for women.family planning) and legal rights for women.

Emancipation of WomenEmancipation of Women Another clear difference is their Another clear difference is their

level of education. 85% of women level of education. 85% of women in Kerala are literate, and girls in Kerala are literate, and girls outnumber boys in higher outnumber boys in higher education. education.

Women with qualifications are Women with qualifications are more likely to work, and marry more likely to work, and marry later. The average age of later. The average age of marriage for women in Kerala is marriage for women in Kerala is the highest in India, which again the highest in India, which again reduces the likelihood of having a reduces the likelihood of having a large family.large family. •With better education, women are more likely to know

how to keep their children healthy. Greater investment in health care by the state government helps too. Consequently, infant mortality in Kerala has fallen dramatically from 210 deaths per 1,000 children in 1930 to 14 deaths per 1,000 today. If children have a greater chance of survival, families are less likely to try for more.

The position of womenKerala's success is thanks to the state government's priority in meeting the basic needs of people, especially young

mothers. Compared to other parts of India, women have been treated differently in Kerala for over a century. Keralese women are regarded as an asset rather than a drain on a family's finances. Instead of paying out a dowry when daughters marry, parents in Kerala receive money from the bridegroom's family. Some women can inherit and own land, giving them financial independence and power of their own.

AGEING AGEING POPULATIONSPOPULATIONS

Population Changes Population Changes in MEDCsin MEDCs

Why has life expectancy continued to grow in MEDCs?Why has life expectancy continued to grow in MEDCs?

Reasons for high life expectancy

Ageing PopulationsAgeing Populations

More pensioners than under 16More pensioners than under 16’’s for first time evers for first time ever

Population Card Sort exercise…Population Card Sort exercise…1.1. Sort the cards into categories (of your Sort the cards into categories (of your

choice). There must be a minimum of 3 choice). There must be a minimum of 3 groups, maximum of 6.groups, maximum of 6.

What categories did you use? Why?What categories did you use? Why?

2.2. Define social, political and economicDefine social, political and economic

3.3. Sort your cards using these 3 headings.Sort your cards using these 3 headings.

4.4. When you have completed the lists try to When you have completed the lists try to use evidence from the cards to complete use evidence from the cards to complete the worksheet (the worksheet (‘‘social, economic, etc)social, economic, etc)