Malthus's theory
In 1798 Thomas Robert Malthus published An Essay on the Principle of Population in which he argued that population growth will inevitably outpace food production, resulting in widespread famine. Some geographers agree with his theory and some don’t. This essay will explain why some geographers agree with Malthus’s theory and why others don’t.
Some geographers believe that population has been increasing rapidly as Malthus predicted. The first reason of population growth is the limited use of contraception. Some cultures and religions condemns contraception. For instance, some Christians believe that contraception is not natural and does not follow their god’s order. In some other cases, contraception just isn’t available or affordable. The second reason of population growth is political policies that encourage population growth. For example, Taiwan offers baby bonus to encourage women to have more children. The third reason is that most developing countries are in stage 2 or early stage 3 of the demographic transition, so the population will continue to grow.
Geographers accept Malthus’s theory believe that food supply has increased, but it has not kept up with population increase. The first reason is the conversion of farmland for urban use. For example, developing countries very often set redevelopment zones in farmlands and organize them into cities. The second reason is environmental degradation such as desertification, overgrazing, clear cutting, and soil erosion. The United States as the biggest crop exporter ranks the worse for environmental impact. Environmental degradation threatens future crop production. The third reason is the conversion of life-supporting crops to cash crops (tobacco, sugar, cotton, tea, coffee). Taiwan is an example, governmental policies encourage farmers grow cash crops such as flowers and fruits instead of rice. The fourth reason is the rising fuel costs will slow down growth of food production and distribution. Rising fuel cost will make the production of crops, and price of transportation more expensive. The fifth reason is climate change. Climate change will cause the decrease of food production because a lot of crops cannot adopt to different climates.
Geographers who disagree with Malthus’s theory believe that the population growth didn’t grow as Malthus predicted. The first reason is the expanded use of contraception. The availability of contraception has increase significantly in developing countries. The second reason is the political policies that limit population growth. The Chinese One Child Policy only allows a couple to have one child. It is very effective in limiting population growth. The third reason is that a lot of countries are in stage four, and even stage five of the demographic transition. Their populations are stable or declining, and most countries will eventually reach this stage.
Geographers who disagree with Malthus’s theory also believe that Food supply has grown faster than predicted by Malthus. There are new technology that enables more efficient farming such as mechanization, factory farming, genetically modified crops…. Agricultural land has increased in the pass decades. Also, future technology development might make food production even more efficient. They also believe that our ability to store and distribute these resources has improved. Food can be preserved through refrigeration, packing, and processed. Highways, containerization, and refrigerated trucks enables food to be transported in greater distances.
Some geographers believe that population has been increasing rapidly as Malthus predicted. The first reason of population growth is the limited use of contraception. Some cultures and religions condemns contraception. For instance, some Christians believe that contraception is not natural and does not follow their god’s order. In some other cases, contraception just isn’t available or affordable. The second reason of population growth is political policies that encourage population growth. For example, Taiwan offers baby bonus to encourage women to have more children. The third reason is that most developing countries are in stage 2 or early stage 3 of the demographic transition, so the population will continue to grow.
Geographers accept Malthus’s theory believe that food supply has increased, but it has not kept up with population increase. The first reason is the conversion of farmland for urban use. For example, developing countries very often set redevelopment zones in farmlands and organize them into cities. The second reason is environmental degradation such as desertification, overgrazing, clear cutting, and soil erosion. The United States as the biggest crop exporter ranks the worse for environmental impact. Environmental degradation threatens future crop production. The third reason is the conversion of life-supporting crops to cash crops (tobacco, sugar, cotton, tea, coffee). Taiwan is an example, governmental policies encourage farmers grow cash crops such as flowers and fruits instead of rice. The fourth reason is the rising fuel costs will slow down growth of food production and distribution. Rising fuel cost will make the production of crops, and price of transportation more expensive. The fifth reason is climate change. Climate change will cause the decrease of food production because a lot of crops cannot adopt to different climates.
Geographers who disagree with Malthus’s theory believe that the population growth didn’t grow as Malthus predicted. The first reason is the expanded use of contraception. The availability of contraception has increase significantly in developing countries. The second reason is the political policies that limit population growth. The Chinese One Child Policy only allows a couple to have one child. It is very effective in limiting population growth. The third reason is that a lot of countries are in stage four, and even stage five of the demographic transition. Their populations are stable or declining, and most countries will eventually reach this stage.
Geographers who disagree with Malthus’s theory also believe that Food supply has grown faster than predicted by Malthus. There are new technology that enables more efficient farming such as mechanization, factory farming, genetically modified crops…. Agricultural land has increased in the pass decades. Also, future technology development might make food production even more efficient. They also believe that our ability to store and distribute these resources has improved. Food can be preserved through refrigeration, packing, and processed. Highways, containerization, and refrigerated trucks enables food to be transported in greater distances.
demographic transition
Country A is in stage 2 of the demographic transition. In stage two of the demographic transition, the birth rate is high and the death rate rapidly declines. It is resulted from the industrial revolution. Because countries are wealthier, they can spend more money on making communities better places to live. The improvement of medical practices eliminates traditional causes of deaths such as pestilences.
One of the positive impact of country A’s population structure is that it has an expanding workforce. After a decade, the population currently under 15 will be able to enter the work force, the working population will increase greatly. The population will be composed of mostly young people, which can spark creativity and receptive to change. Because Country has a lot of work force, it will most likely have less need of immigration workers. Also, since the working population will eventually be greater than the elderly population, elderly can expect sufficient care when they retire. There will be less need for elderly society safety.
The first negative impact that country A will face is a high youth dependency ratio. There is a lot of population under 15, which means that the working population has to provide for a lot of young people. Workers, having to take care of the elders won’t have spare money for investments or entertainment, thus possibly resulting in recession of the economy. The second negative impact is the strain on resources. The resources in country A might not be enough to support its growing population. The population growth indicates that women might not be educated nor empowered. The high birth rate indicates that women spend most of their child bearing years giving birth and raising children, they are less likely to receive an education nor to work.
Country B, is in stage 3 of the demographic transition, which is characterized by the decreasing growth in population. Birth rates rapidly declines and death rate continues to decline, resulting in the natural increase rate to begin to moderate. The declining birth rate is a result of declining infant mortality rate and urbanization. Urban family generally doesn’t have as much space as rural family do to raise as many children. Also, the cost to raise children in cities is more expensive than to raise children in rural areas, families might not be able to afford to raise as many children in cities.
A positive impact to Country B’s populations structure is that it has a more educated, and experienced workforce. There are older workers to pass their experiences to younger workers who just entered the workforce. Because of the low birth rate, the youth dependency ratio is low. People will generally be wealthier because they don’t have to take care of children. There will be more empowered women because the need for labor foce will demand for women to work. Also, country B will very likely need to have immigrant workers to compensate for its declining workforce. Citizens might be able to have higher order jobs.
One of the positive negative that Country B might face is a high elder dependency ratio, placing a greater economic burden on young workers. Since the birth rate is declining, there might be a future labor shortage in Country B when the current population under 15 reach their work age. There will also be a greater need to fund elder social safety because workers might not take care of elderly sufficiently. The need for health care resources will be tight because elderly tend to be sick.
One of the positive impact of country A’s population structure is that it has an expanding workforce. After a decade, the population currently under 15 will be able to enter the work force, the working population will increase greatly. The population will be composed of mostly young people, which can spark creativity and receptive to change. Because Country has a lot of work force, it will most likely have less need of immigration workers. Also, since the working population will eventually be greater than the elderly population, elderly can expect sufficient care when they retire. There will be less need for elderly society safety.
The first negative impact that country A will face is a high youth dependency ratio. There is a lot of population under 15, which means that the working population has to provide for a lot of young people. Workers, having to take care of the elders won’t have spare money for investments or entertainment, thus possibly resulting in recession of the economy. The second negative impact is the strain on resources. The resources in country A might not be enough to support its growing population. The population growth indicates that women might not be educated nor empowered. The high birth rate indicates that women spend most of their child bearing years giving birth and raising children, they are less likely to receive an education nor to work.
Country B, is in stage 3 of the demographic transition, which is characterized by the decreasing growth in population. Birth rates rapidly declines and death rate continues to decline, resulting in the natural increase rate to begin to moderate. The declining birth rate is a result of declining infant mortality rate and urbanization. Urban family generally doesn’t have as much space as rural family do to raise as many children. Also, the cost to raise children in cities is more expensive than to raise children in rural areas, families might not be able to afford to raise as many children in cities.
A positive impact to Country B’s populations structure is that it has a more educated, and experienced workforce. There are older workers to pass their experiences to younger workers who just entered the workforce. Because of the low birth rate, the youth dependency ratio is low. People will generally be wealthier because they don’t have to take care of children. There will be more empowered women because the need for labor foce will demand for women to work. Also, country B will very likely need to have immigrant workers to compensate for its declining workforce. Citizens might be able to have higher order jobs.
One of the positive negative that Country B might face is a high elder dependency ratio, placing a greater economic burden on young workers. Since the birth rate is declining, there might be a future labor shortage in Country B when the current population under 15 reach their work age. There will also be a greater need to fund elder social safety because workers might not take care of elderly sufficiently. The need for health care resources will be tight because elderly tend to be sick.