Population and Urbanization Chapter 14

Demography and Fertility Demography is a field of sociology that examines population size, composition, and distribution. Demography is used to examine the effects of population on society Fertility is the level of childbearing for an individual or population. This is affected by the demography. How many women? Health and nutrition?

Birth Rates and Mortality Crude birth rate…the number of live births per 1000 people in a given year. 12.9 in 2015 (CIA) 27 in 1947 (baby boom) Some nations have high crude birth rates but also have high infant mortality rates. Mortality is the incidence of death in a population. Crude death rate…number of deaths per 1000 in a given year. Infant mortality rate…number of deaths with infants under 1 year.

Migration Migration is the movement of people from one geographic area to another (forced or voluntary). Wars Persecution Natural disasters Political unrest

Migration Two types of movement: Immigration is the movement of people into a geographic area to take up residency. Pull factors…people are pulled to an area Freedom, democratic government etc… Emigration is the movement of people out of a geographic area to take up residency elsewhere. Push factors…people are pushed from an area Natural disasters, tyrannical government

Population Composition Population composition is a part of demography that looks at the make up of the population including: Age Sex Marital status Education Occupation Income Size of household

Population Between 2000 and 2030, almost all of the world’s 1.4 % annual population growth will occur in low- income countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 6 billion in 1999, 7 billion in 2011. Predicted to be 8 billion by 2023 and 10 billion by 2050. Many feel Earth can’t support that

Growth in the World’s Population

Theories of Population Growth The Malthusian Perspective The Marxist Perspective The Neo-Malthusian Perspective Demographic Transition Theory

Malthusian Perspective If left unchecked, the population would exceed the available food supply. Population would increase in a geometric progression (2, 4, 8, …) . The food supply would increase by an arithmetic progression (1, 2, 3, 4 . . .). Believed only acceptable check on population is moral restraint. People should practice abstinence.

Marxist Perspective Using technology, food can be produced for a growing population. Capitalism is the root of the problem Wealthy control the resources and means of food production. Overpopulation will lead to the eventual destruction of capitalism. Workers will become dissatisfied and develop class- consciousness because of shared oppression.

The Neo-Malthusian Perspective More recent movement. Overpopulation and rapid population growth result in global environmental problems. Believe in use of birth control People should be encouraging zero population growth. Population balances…does not grow

Demographic Transition Theory Stage 1: Preindustrial Societies - little population growth, high birth rates offset by high death rates. Stage 2: Early Industrialization - significant population growth, birth rates are relatively high, death rates decline.

Demographic Transition Theory Stage 3: Advanced Industrialization and Urbanization - very little population growth occurs, birth rates and death rates are low. Stage 4: Postindustrialization - birth rates decline as more women are employed and raising children becomes more costly.

Figure 15.3: The Demographic Transition. Fig. 15-3, p. 457

Problems of Population Growth Competition for resources Overuse of resources Environmental devastation Increased poverty in LDC’s

Urbanization

Development of a City City… a relatively permanent and dense settlement of people with non-agricultural activities. Three preconditions: A favorable physical environment. An advanced technology that could produce a social surplus. A well-developed political system to provide social stability to the economic system.

An increasing proportion of the world’s population lives in cities An increasing proportion of the world’s population lives in cities. How is this scene in Lagos, Nigeria, similar to and different from major U.S. cities? p. 460

Concentric Zone Model (Functionalist Perspective) Cities develop depending on land use. Areas move from center circularly. Invasion…new type of land use evolves in occupied area Succession…the invading land use eventually dominates the area Gentrification…middle and upper middle classes move into city and renovate.

Sector and Multiple Nuclei Sector model emphasizes the importance of terrain and transportation in the layout of a city. Multiple Nuclei model says that cities have numerous centers of development.

Figure 15.4: Three Models of the City. Fig. 15-4, p. 464

Conflict Perspective Conflict theorists believe that cities do not grow or decline by chance or that urban growth is natural…they believe they are the products of capitalist decisions. Cities are developed based on exchange value…the profits that the wealthy make from development.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Simmel's View of City Life…Cities develop because… Urban life is stimulating; it shapes people's thoughts and actions. Urban living can be liberating - people have opportunities for individualism and autonomy.

Suburbs Since World War II, the U.S. population has shifted as people moved to the suburbs. Suburbanites rely on urban centers for employment but pay property taxes to suburban governments and school districts. Leads to fiscal crisis in cities.