GLOBAL
DEMOGRAPHY
Group 2 | BSA 1C
CONTENTS
Concept of Demography
Malthusian Theory
Critique of Malthusian Theory
Demographic Transition Theory
DEMOGRAPHY
The study of statistics such as
births, deaths, income, or the
incidence of disease, which
illustrate the changing structure
of human populations (Oxford
Dictionary)
CONCEPT OF DEMOGRAPHY
DEMOGRAPHY
The statistical study of human
populations especially with
reference to size and density,
distribution, and vital statistics
(Merriam Webster)
CONCEPT OF DEMOGRAPHY
DEMOGRAPHY
EMILY GRUNDY
Demography is the scientific
study of population. It is
concerned with the ‘numbering
of the people' and with
understanding population
dynamics – how populations
change in response to the
interplay between fertility,
mortality and migration.
CONCEPT OF DEMOGRAPHY
DEMOGRAPHY
JACQUES VALLIN
The statistical study of human
populations (structure and
change), the factors behind their
dynamics and the consequences
of population change.
CONCEPT OF DEMOGRAPHY
GLOBAL DEMOGRAPHY
The study of the worldwide
population rather than the
population of a specific country,
region, or city.
CONCEPT OF DEMOGRAPHY
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
THOMAS ROBERT MALTHUS
An influential British economist
He earned a master's degree in
1791 and became a fellow two
years later. In 1805, Malthus
became a professor of history
and political economy at the
East India Company's college
at Haileybury.
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
THOMAS ROBERT MALTHUS
Known for his theory on
population growth, outlined in
his 1798 book "An Essay on the
Principle of Population.”
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
The theory states that the supply of food cannot keep
up with the growth of the human population, inevitably
resulting in disease, famine, war, and calamity.
Malthus' severe theory on population growth was
shaped by his status as an 18th-century Anglican cleric.
He believed that the poor would produce more food
but also have larger families. Eventually, the population
would outgrow resources, leading to starvation or
disaster to reduce numbers.
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
In the 18th and early 19th centuries, some philosophers
believed society was moving toward a utopia. Malthus
disagreed, arguing that poverty and misery have
always limited population growth.
In his "Principle of Population," he wrote that
humans are by nature "inert, sluggish, and averse
from labour, unless compelled by necessity."
More specifically, he stated that the human population
increases geometrically, while food production
increases arithmetically.
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
THE DISMAL SCIENCE
These conclusions inspired the description of economics
as the "dismal science." Originally coined by the
philosopher Thomas Carlyle, the term was used to
describe Malthus' conclusions regarding the inevitability of
overpopulation and famine.
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
The naturalist Charles Darwin based his theory of
natural selection in part on Malthus' analysis of
population growth. Malthus' views also enjoyed a
resurgence in the 20th century with the advent of
Keynesian economics.
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
THE KEY COMPONENTS OF
MALTHUS'S THEORY
POSITIVE CHECKS
Factors that would reduce the population by
causing death, thus keeping it in check. It includes
natural disasters, disease, and famine.
PREVENTIVE CHECKS
Measures taken by individuals and society to limit
population growth voluntarily. Examples are late
marriages, abstinence, and even moral restraint.
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
STEADY STATE IN A
MALTHUSIAN ECONOMY
In the context of a
Malthusian economy, a
steady state is a state of
equilibrium in which the
population of the society
remains relatively constant
over the long term.
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
STEADY STATE IN A
MALTHUSIAN ECONOMY
This population stability is
maintained by a balance
between the birth rate and
the death rate, which are
influenced by:
1. Availability of resources
2. Checks on population
growth
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF STEADY
STATES
Balanced Population Growth
Limited Resource Expansion
Checks on Population
Stagnation
Environmental Constraints
Vulnerability
Social Norms
MALTHUSIAN THEORY
CRITIQUES OF MALTHUSIAN THEORY
BOSERUPIAN THEORY
One of the most well-known critics of Malthusian Theory
comes from Ester Boserup, a Danish economist whose work in
the 1960s challenged Malthus’s assumption that population
growth inevitably leads to disaster. Instead, she proposed
that as populations grow, humans innovate and find ways to
increase food production.
CRITIQUES MALTHUSIAN THEORY
CRITIQUES OF MALTHUSIAN THEORY
BOSERUPIAN THEORY
Key Ideas
Innovation as Necessity
Agricultural Intensification
Crop Rotation Selective Breeding
Irrigation Systems Land Reclamation
Labor as a Resource
CRITIQUES MALTHUSIAN THEORY
CRITIQUES OF MALTHUSIAN THEORY
MODERN AGRICULTURAL ADVANCEMENTS
Green Revolution (1940s–1960s): Period of rapid agricultural
innovation that disproved Malthusian predictions by
massively increasing food output in many developing
countries.
Increased Global Food Supply
Reduction in Famine and Hunger
Population Growth Without Food Shortages
CRITIQUES MALTHUSIAN THEORY
CRITIQUES OF MALTHUSIAN THEORY
MODERN AGRICULTURAL ADVANCEMENTS
Biotechnology and GMOs: Biotechnology continues to
challenge Malthusian assumptions by making food
production even more efficient.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Precision Agriculture
Artificial Meat and Alternative Proteins
CRITIQUES MALTHUSIAN THEORY
CRITIQUES OF MALTHUSIAN THEORY
GLOBAL TRADE, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS,
AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Global Trade
Technological Innovations in Resource Management
Sustainable Agricultural Practices
CRITIQUES MALTHUSIAN THEORY
CRITIQUES OF MALTHUSIAN THEORY
NEO-MALTHUSIAN PERSPECTIVE
While classical Malthusian Theory has been largely disproven,
the Neo-Malthusian perspective argues that modern
environmental challenges still pose significant risks related to
population growth and resource use.
CRITIQUES MALTHUSIAN THEORY
CRITIQUES OF MALTHUSIAN THEORY
NEO-MALTHUSIAN PERSPECTIVE
Key Concerns
Climate Change Carrying Capacity of the Earth
Finite Resources
Examples
Water Scarcity in the Middle East and Africa
Deforestation in the Amazon
Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa
CRITIQUES MALTHUSIAN THEORY
CRITIQUES OF MALTHUSIAN THEORY
OTHER CRITIQUES
England did face a shortage of agricultural land and if the
country had to feed its population through farming then it
would have suffered from famines. However, that was not the
case as the industrial revolution made use of natural
resources and made goods which were exported to other
countries in exchange for food. Malthus made the mistake of
only considering agriculture and food production.
CRITIQUES MALTHUSIAN THEORY
CRITIQUES OF MALTHUSIAN THEORY
OTHER CRITIQUES
Malthus did not provide calculations for the arithmetic growth
of food and the geometric growth of population. Present-day
experts have pointed out that the growth rates in both
matters are inconsistent concerning Malthus’s predictions.
CRITIQUES MALTHUSIAN THEORY
CRITIQUES OF MALTHUSIAN THEORY
OTHER CRITIQUES
One of the principal weaknesses of Malthus’ thought has
been that he neglected the manpower aspect in population
growth. He was a pessimist and dreaded every increase in
population. He forgot, according to Cannan, that “a baby
comes to the world not only with a mouth and a stomach, but
also with a pair of hands.”
CRITIQUES MALTHUSIAN THEORY
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY
It is based on an interpretation that
begun in 1929 by the American
demographer Warren Thompson, of the
observed changes, or transitions, in birth
and death rates in industrialized
societies over the past two hundred
years or so.
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY
The theory of demographic transition
states that the economy and society of
a country has a very clear relation to the
birth and death rate of that country,
which, in turn, regulates the
development of that country.
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY
High birth and Agricultural Weak economy and
A. death rate economy society
High birth rate and Triggering
Industrialization
B. declining death rate development
Industrial and
Declining birth commercial Social and
C. rate and death rate economy and modern
agriculture
economic stability
Declining birth rate and Weakening of a steady
Heavy decrease
heavy decline economy
D. in death rate
in population
(this is a temporary
state)
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY
STAGES OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC
TRANSITION MODEL
STAGE 1 STAGE 2
Pre-industrial Society Developing Country
Death rates and birth rates The death rates drop rapidly
are high and roughly in due to improvements in food
balance. supply and sanitation, which
increase life spans and
reduce disease.
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY
STAGES OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC
TRANSITION MODEL
STAGE 3 STAGE 4
Birth rates fall due to various There are both low birth rates
fertility factors. Population and low death rates. Birth
growth begins to level off. rates may drop to well below
replacement level, leading to
a shrinking population.
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY
FIFTH STAGE OF
THE
Some
MODEL scholars
delineate a separate
fifth stage of below-
replacement fertility
levels. Others
hypothesize a different
stage five involving an
increase in fertility.
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY
FIFTH STAGE OF
THE
The
MODEL
United Nations
Population Fund (2008)
categorizes nations as
high-fertility,
intermediate-fertility, or
low-fertility.
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY
Presentation by Group 2
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