Population and Food Michael Itagaki Sociology 102, Social Problems

The Problem in Sociological Perspective How many people in the U.S.  303 million Each day, Americans buy an average of Eggs:  58,863,993 Orville Redenbacher popcorn  978,030 Large Fries at Burger King  443,650

The Problem in Sociological Perspective Demography  Studies the size, composition, growth and distribution of human populations

The Problem in Sociological Perspective World Population  Abrupt increases: ex. population in Europe  1750—140 million people  1800—188 million people  1850—256 million people

The Problem in Sociological Perspective World Population  Why the increase?  Improved public health  Thomas McKeown  Infanticide practice declined after 1750  Why?

The Problem in Sociological Perspective Demography  Studies the size, composition, growth and distribution of human populations  Relationship between population and the environment

The Problem in Sociological Perspective Thomas Malthus (1798)  An Essay on the Principle of Population  Population grows exponentially 2 to 4 to 8 to 16… = 2 x  Food supply increases arithmetically 1 to 2 to 3 to 4… = x+1

The Problem in Sociological Perspective Thomas Malthus (1798)  Exponential growth: Penny example  1 day, 1 cent; 2 days, 2 cents; 3 days, 4 cents  One week = $ 1.28  Two weeks = $  Three weeks = $ 20,  Four weeks = $2,684,354.56

The Problem in Sociological Perspective New Malthusians  Exponential population growth curve

Figure 13.1 (p. 424) World Population: The Exponential Growth Curve Sources: Piotrow 1973: 4; Haub 1995, 2004.

The Problem in Sociological Perspective New Malthusians  Exponential population growth curve  Population will outgrow food supply Anti-Malthusians  Exponential population growth curve is wrong  People adapt to the environment

The Problem in Sociological Perspective Anti-Malthusians  Rational planning for having children  Increased food production  Technology/Agriculture  Ex.: Europe’s demographic transition Figure 13-3

Figure 13.3 (p. 426) The Demographic Transition Source: By the author.

Figure 13.1 (p. 424) World Population: The Exponential Growth Curve Sources: Piotrow 1973: 4; Haub 1995, 2004.

The Problem in Sociological Perspective Anti-Malthusians  Growth is slowing down  Demographic transition for rest of world

The Scope of the Problem New-Malthusians  Population growth = not enough food  Solution: limit population Anti-Malthusians  More food available now than ever  Solution: Redistribution of food (political barriers)

Symbolic Interactionism Why do the poor want so many children?  Asset to the family  Taking the role of the other

Figure 13.6 (p. 432) Why the Poor in the Least Industrialized Nations Want Many Children Based on a survey in Indonesia, this figure shows how children are economic assets in the Least Industrialized Nations. Boys and girls can be net income earners for their families by the age of 9 or 10. Source: U.N. Fund for Population Activities.

Functionalism War, famine, disease are functional to society  Latent dysfunctions  Modern medicine  Public health practices

Figure 13.3 (p. 426) The Demographic Transition Source: By the author.

Figure 13.7 (p. 433) Population Pyramids of Mexico and the United States Source: By the author. Computed from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, International Data Base, Table 94.

Conflict Theory Power arrangements favor industrialized nations  Ex. U.S. & Canada control 60% of wheat  Sell surpluses for highest profit…  not to the most needy  Leaving farm land fallow: profit vs. production

Research Findings New Malthusians

Figure 13.1 (p. 424) World Population: The Exponential Growth Curve Sources: Piotrow 1973: 4; Haub 1995, 2004.

Research Findings New Malthusians  The earth’s three natural systems  Limited carrying capacity

Research Findings New Malthusians  Fishing Grounds  Forests  Grasslands

Research Findings New Malthusians  Major Dangers  Disease of Specialized Strains  Intensification of natural disasters  World peace threatened:

Research Findings Anti Malthusians

Figure 13.3 (p. 426) The Demographic Transition Source: By the author.

Research Findings Anti Malthusians  Large populations are good  Food production is outpacing population growth

Figure 13.4 (p. 428) How Much Food Does the World Produce Per Person? Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Simon 1981: 58; Statistical Abstract 1988: Table 1411; 1998: Tables 1380, 1381, 1382, 1383; recomputed to base. Note: Projections from 1997 on are the author's.

Immigration and the U.S. Population Composition Proportion of immigrants in the U.S. population is the highest since 1940 Immigration will account for two-thirds of the population growth in the next 50 years Immigration leads to higher taxes but also brings substantial economic benefits U.S. population policies focus on immigration – particularly illegal immigrants

Discussion Question Should the United States Should simply close its doors to all immigrants?  What would be the consequences of doing so?  How would such a move reflect on our national values and priorities?

Figure 13.13a (p. 443) Density of Selected Countries (continued on next two slides)

Figure 13.13b (cont.)

Figure 13.13c (cont.)