Answers to Chapter 5 Questions. # 2 to 6
Question #2: Briefly summarize the two reasons why the onset of early transition and late transition occurred later and faster in developing countries:
Note: Early transition involves a drop in the death rates and later transition involves a drop in birth rates.
2 Reasons for Later onset of “Early Transition” in Developing Countries
Developing countries did not have access to sanitation and disease control as early as developed countries did so they went through “early” transition later.
Economic development was also slower in developing countries so agriculturally based economies traditionally had large families in order to work the land, so they had a high birth rate, but also a high death rate due to the lack of sanitation
2 Reasons for Faster onset of “Late Transition” in Developing Countries
Knowledge and technology associated with sanitation and disease control that had already been in place in developed countries were brought to developing countries during colonialization, travel and trade.
Rapid industrial development, often associated with investment from developed countries resulted in the movement of people from farms to cities where they had smaller families. Also, methods of birth control were brought from developed countries to developing countries also resulting in smaller family sizes.
Question #3: Contrast the factors responsible for “death control” (the decline in the death rate) during demographic transition with those responsible for birth control.
Death Controls
Acceptance of germ theory of disease
Personal hygiene, clean water and knowledge of appropriate handling of human and animal waste
Development of modern medicines and vaccines
Birth Controls
Higher survival rate for children so fewer babies are needed
Smaller families due the high cost of educating children in urban areas
Greater economic opportunities for women who then put of having families until later and then have fewer children

Question #4: Acceptance of germ theory of disease has made infection control a major health goal worldwide. Provide one example of each of the following:
A household product named after a pioneer in the fight against germs – Listerine!
A major Canadian public health tragedy caused by inattention to infection risk = E. coli outbreak in Walkerton, Ontario in 2000 – 7 people died and more than 2000 people were violently ill
Something you might have to do to protect yourself against infection = Wash your hands!
A major concern of international travellers = getting sick in a country where you don’t speak the local language; being exposed to germs that do not exist at home and for which your body does not have resistance to; getting parasites or diarrhea from food or poor quality water (Malaria, Ebola, etc.)
A major concern in Canadian hospitals = transmission of infectious disease among patients, staff, and visitors (SARS, etc.); post-op infections, spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria
Question # 5: Explain why Mexico’s current death rate is lower than Sweden’s in spite of the fact that Sweden is more highly developed and has more advanced health care:
Sweden is a post-transition country with a large elderly population. The death rate in
Sweden is likely higher than Mexico’s because its aging population is dying.
Question #6a): Do you think Earth has an ultimate carrying capacity? Explain:
Carrying Capacity is the Earth’s ability to provide resources for its population. You could argue that this carrying capacity IS limited if you consider that carrying capacity should also be within a framework of “quality of life”. Arguably, today we are exceeding our carrying capacity as there are resources that are depleting and people are already living without the necessities for life. Alternatively, you could argue that “no” our carrying capacity is not limited as our potential to uncover scientific discoveries and develop technology that cold provide alternate sources of limitless/renewable energy and resources to sustain the planet no matter what the population is. Also, arguably, we do have enough resources for our current population but they are not distributed evenly, hence a lack of quality of life for many.
Question 6.b): What natural and human factors would influence the magnitude of the Earth’s carrying capacity?

Natural Factors:
- Amount of arable land needed to grow food
- Large enough supply of fresh Water
- Supply of raw materials to provide fuels and materials for manufacturing goods
- Ability of the Earth’s environment to recycle our wastes
Human Factors:
- extent to which people are free to move from one location to another in order to support themselves
- manageability of world population increases in terms of housing and food production
- extent to which industrial capacity can increase to meet the demands of increase in population before non-renewable resources are depleted
- the standard of living that is considered necessary and acceptable for all
Question 6.c): Coal, oil and natural gas can be used as fuels or as industrial raw materials.
What is the difference between these two possible uses? How can the difference relate to the idea of a phantom carrying capacity?
Phantom carrying capacity is Earths’ ability to support an immense population at a high standard of living ONLY because it is using up its NON-RENEWABLE resources to the detriment of future generations.
When coal, oil and natural gas are used as fuels they are consumed and deplete what is left, but when they are used as industrial raw materials they can be recycled which prevents immediate depletion.
Using non-renewable fuels produces a phantom carrying capacity because eventually these resources will be depleted and the economic and ecological systems they are based on will collapse. When used as industrial raw materials however, they can be reused so they are not depleted right away and therefore do not produce an immediate phantom carrying capacity.