Population
Powerpoint produced by Rachel Farrell (PDST) & Aoife Healion (SHS, Tullamore)
Sources of information: SEC Marking Schemes, newspaper articles & documentaries
World Population Clock
• http://www.worldometers.info/world
-population/
Syllabus
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Economics of Population
Global and national population, size,
composition and trends.
Over, under and optimum population.
The labour force and employment.
The importance of population, and its
influence on economic development
and growth.
Exam Questions OL
• Short
• 2012 Q 8
• 2009 Q 2
• 2006 Q 2
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Long2012 Q 5 (a), (c)
2012 Q 8 (a)
2011 Q 8 (a) & (b)
2010 Q 7 (a)
2009 Q 6
2008 Q 3 (c)
2007 Q 6
2005 Q 6 (a) & (c)
2003 Q 7
2002 Q 7 (c)
2001 Q 7 (c)
Exam Questions HL
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Short
2010 Q 9
2006 Q 1
2001 Q 9
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Long
2011 Q 8 (a) (b) (c)
2010 Q 8 (b) (c)
2008 Q 7 (c)
2005 Q 8 (a)
2003 Q 7 (c)
Under Population
• Occurs when output and income per
head increases as the population
rises.
• As the population increases most
people become better off.
• Eg. Australia, Newzeland & Canada, &
Japan
Complete “skimming an article exercise” on pdst website
Problems of
underpopulation
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Increases the dependency ratio
Smaller domestic market
Labour shortages
Less people to pay back the national
debt.
Students: Write a brief explanation of
each of these headings.
Overpopulation
• Occurs in a country when output and
income per head fall as the population
rises.
• The economic resources are unable to
support the increase in population
without causing a decline in the SOL.
• Eg. India, China & Ethiopia.
Problems of overpopulation
1. Unemployment
2. Low SOL
3. Pressure on resources, health, ed…
4. Scarcity of food
5. Land prices may increase
6. Harm to the environment
Students: Write a brief explanation of
each of these headings.
Optimum population
• Occurs when the level of population
is such that the economic resources
of the country are providing the
maximum output per head.
Factors that influence
the size of population
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Birth Rate
Is the number of live births for every
1,000 members of the population.
2. Death Rate
• Is the number of deaths per 1,000 of
the population.
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For population replacement the birth rate must be higher
than the death rate
3. Infant Mortality Rate
• Is the average number of deaths per
year per 1,000 live births.
4. Net Rate of Emigration/Immigration
• Is the total number of people who
enter minus the total number who
leave the country on a yearly basis.
Emigration
• Is the number of people who leave
the country permanently.
Push forces
• Factors that compel people to leave
their own country.
• Eg. Unemployment, low wages…
Pull forces
• Factors that attract people to
another country.
• Eg. Climate, higher wages & job opp
Advantages of emigration
1. Reduction in unemployment
• Eases the pressure on gov to provide s/w &
jobs.
2. Reduces social costs of unemployment
• Less vandalism & crime
• Emigrants return with skills & money.
Disadvantages of emigration
1. Smaller domestic market
• Less sales may lead to more
unemployment.
2. Brain drain
• Benefits of money spent on education
goes to other countries
3. Increase in the dependency ratio
• Mostly 18 to 35 year olds leave.
• Less revenue from tax.
• More young & old in the country.
• Greater burden on the government
finances to provide services.
Immigration
• Is when people from other countries
come to live in Ireland permanently.
Net migration
• Means that there are more people
entering the country than leaving it.
• Ie. immigration is larger than
emigration.
Advantages of Immigration
placemat exercise
Disadvantages of Immigration
placemat exercise
2011 HL Q 8 (b)
• Discuss the reasons why Ireland is
now experiencing a high level of net
outward migration.
2011 HL Q 8 (b)
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Foreign nationals returning home
Economic recession in Ireland
Falling wage rates in Ireland
Rising level of tax in Ireland
Job opportunities abroad
Students: Write a brief explanation of each point.
Sources of population
information
1. Census of population
• Carried out every 5 years.
• It is a head count of all the
residence in Ireland.
• First one in Ireland in 1841
• Most recent one in 2006
2. Registration of births & deaths.
• By hospitals, doctors and relatives.
3. Central Statistics Office (CSO)
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Quarterly National House Survey.
Data compiled at air and sea ports.
The Register of Electors.
The Child Benefit Scheme.
The no. of visas, work-permits &
asylum applications.
Why is the census of
population important? 2011 Q 8 (b)
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For the Government
Infrastructural requirements
Provision of essential services
Pension planning
Qualifications of workforce
Students: write a sentence for each.
Why is the census of
population important? 2011 Q 8 (b)
For business
1. Predict future level of demand
2. Population data
3. Labour market
Students: write a sentence for each.
The 2011 census of Ireland
highlighted that
Complete “scanning exercise” on pdst website
Complete “scanning exercise” on pdst website
Sample
Word
Wall
Demography
• Is the statistical study of human
population.
• It involves the study of the total
size of the population and its
composition.
• Eg. No of males, females, age profiles
etc.
Population Pyramid
Population Pyramid
• Is a diagram that shows the
distribution by age of the population
of a country.
• In Ireland in 2006 the median age is
approx 35 years.
• Irelands population is becoming older.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population
_pyramid
Outline the economic implications
of the changing structure and size
of the Irish population.
2010 & 2005
Use placemat to discuss
Look up SEC marking schemes
Effects of an aging
population
1.Pressure on provision of state
pensions
2.Possible increased tax burden
3.Increased government expenditure
4.Changing pattern of demand
Students discuss & write an
explanation for each heading
Robert Malthus
Theory of Population
• Nationality: English
• Time: 1766-1834
• Essay: Principles of Population
• Population closely connected to food
supply & production.
• Food has arithmetic growth (1,2,3,4)
• Population has geometric growth (2,4,8)
• Population would double every 25 years if
left unchecked.
• Famine disease and disasters would
result.
• This would keep population within
limits of food supply.
• Forecast severe decline in the SOL in
GB by the end of the 19th century.
• This did not happen.
• However the population explosion of
the 21st century may prove him right.
Thomas Robert Malthus
Classical Economist
English
(1776-1834)
“The Principles of Population”
Theory of
Population & Food
•Population grows
geometrically (2,4,8,16,32).
•Food grows
arithmetically (1,2,3,4,5,6).
•If population not kept in
check famine & disease
would result.
•SOL did not fall in 19th C
but his ideas were more
relevant in the population
explosion of the 20th C
Applied the Law of
Diminishing Returns to
Land
•Best land taken up
first, then next best,
then inferior….
•At each stage the
amount of food is less
than before.
Iron Law of Wages
An increase in wage above
subsistence level
= increase in population
= increase in supply of
labour
=decrease in wage
World Population Clock
• http://www.worldometers.info/world
-population/
World population
7,000,000,000
7 billion
World Population
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1950 2.5 billion
1988 5 billion
2004 6.4 billion
2011 7 billion
2050 9 billion is estimate
Africa set to record highest levels of
growth 64% – 158%
YouTube clips
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc
4HxPxNrZ0 (7billion video)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B
2xOvKFFz4 (most typical person)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS
pUWt_dpAo (why they are doing a
series on population)
Causes of world population
explosion
1. Change in death rate
• People are now living longer.
2. Reduced infant mortality
• Less babies dying due to advances in
medicine.
3. Fertility span lengthened
Advances in treatments, women having
babies in 40’s.
4. High birth rate
• In underdeveloped countries.
Economic problems of the
world population explosion
1. Scarcity of food.
Could lead to price increases or famine.
2. A decrease in the average income per head.
Will reduce the standard of living.
3. High levels of unemployment.
Will put financial strain on the government to pay for
welfare and social costs of crime & violence.
4. Greater strain on education, health, housing & social
amenities
As more people need public utilities but governments
may lack the resources to provide them.
The IMF & the Millenium
Development Goals
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Eradicate hunger & poverty.
Achieve universal primary education.
Promote gender equity.
Reduce child mortality.
Improve maternal health,
Combat HIV/AIDS malaria…..
Environmental sustainability.
Improve trade & debt relief.
By 2015
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Discussion
China’s one child policy???
Contraception ????
Fertility treatment ????
George Orwell 1984 ??????
Euthenasia ??
Pensions ?????
Food ????
Room to live/land wars ?????????
Task: Update this mindmap!