Problems associated with Youthful Populations

Whilst several countries in the MEDW are experiencing the increase in an ageing population and its inherent socio-economic problems, many countries in the developing world are experiencing the phenomenon of a 'youthful population'. This too has inherent socio economic benefits and problems.


There are several problems associated with youthful dependency (0 - 14 years):


1. Pressure on housing – not enough housing, people living in slums. This is very common around the big cities (New Delhi), where millions of people live in shanty towns with no running water, roads, sewage of any kind.

2. Pressure on schooling – illiterate population. India’s literacy rate is 60%, Cambodia’s literacy rate is 69%.

3. Pressure on food supplies - famine, food distribution difficulties. Natural disasters accentuate this problem e.g. droughts


4. Potential for further population growth as these young people grow older, get married and have children. This will contine to add pressure to schooling, food supplies, housing and health services.


5. Pressure on health services – a growth in diseases being spread around and not being dealt with adequatly to stop the spread.


6. Pressure on working populations (economically active) to support the young and old.



Benefits


Click on the link here and make notes on the benefits associated with a country going through the transitional window of a youthful population.



Read the articles linked below then answer the question for homework.






India's Population Bulge







India's Youthful Population


India's Demographic Bonus





HOMEWORK

Answer the following in Word and email to SD@gsal.org.uk



Using examples describe and explain the consequences of a youthful population (12)

Ageing Population

The population structure of the UK is changing. The following links will provide you with key information to augment your class notes.

Here is a starter for your entertainment



Click here to see an INTERACTIVE POPULATION PYRAMID from the ONS









Click the image to link to the BBC Ageing Population Page.




Click on here to link to the Optimum Population Trust document on ageing population and impact on employment.






Every new home built in the UK must be designed to suit an ageing population. Click here to see BBC News report.

Rural to Urban Migration

Task
Use the resources linked to from this page to produce the following:

1. A detailed annotated version of Lee's Model that summaries Rural to Urban population

movement in Brazil.

2. A written description of how Ravenstein's Law can be applied to Rural to Urban population

movement in Brazil.

RESOURCES


Use the Abstract and Introduction of Migration in Brazil in the 1990s, Norbert M. Fiess and Dorte Verner, The World Bank, 2002.

The two faces of Sao Paulo, Daniel Howden, 12 March 2007.

Brazil poor feel benefits of Lula's policies, Steve Kingstone, 18 September 2006.

Brazil's youth in poverty escape, Jo Wright, 30 July 2005.

Divorce Rises because of One Child Policy

A news article from the BBC today says that China's divorce rate has risen by over 20% in the last year. Some people suggest this is a result of the One Child Policy which has produced a generation of adults unable to sustain relationships. Click here to read the full article.

Adopt a Granny?

How will Italy cope with its ageing population?

Have a look at the three articles from the BBC below

Italians fear a poor old age

Adopt a granny

Italy's pensions timebomb

European Population Boom?

Across Europe many governments are now recognising the trend of decreasing birth rates and realsing the long-term implications this trend will have on the economically acvtive future generations to support an ageing population. As a consequence of this there have been some interesting developments to counter the trend.

Click on this BBC article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4837422.stm to see how different European governments are encouraging women to have more children.

Click on the link below for more information about Italy paying 10,000 Euros for each child....An article from the Guardian http://observer.guardian.co.uk/europe/story/0,,1081021,00.html here is an alternative way to increase their population.

Stage 5 of the Demographic Transition Model

There is growing evidence being presented by demographic studies throughout the world that Europe is entering, or indeed several countries within the EU have already entered Stage 5 of the demographic transition model. Falling death rates coupled with birth rates declining below these has resulted in population decline in many EU countries, e.g., Italy, Germany and Spain. For many this was believed to be economically desirable. The expectation was that employment opportunities would increase, based on the assumption that fewer people would be competing for a fixed number of jobs, an there would be a greater supply of resources to go around.

A counter argument is that the whole situation across Europe and North America may in fact be changed by what happens at the bottom of their social hierarchies. Poor immigrant populations may be the ones to change the demographic structure. The 20% of the population in the MEDW enjoy 80% of all the world's resources. Assuming Europe moves into Stage 5 of the demographic transition model there will be enormous pressure for increased immigration into Europe. Currently there is increasing concern over a potential shortage of workers particularly in the service sector of the economy. The consequences of mass immigration and subsequent integration could raise the potential for social unrest on a large scale.

Click on the image to view the interactive web sites for population pyramids in the UK and Germany. Using the interactive models view the projections for the change in population structure for the next fifty years. N.B. both of these models do not take into consideration the latest countries to join the EU and their impact through migration. (Consider the issues presented in the previous blog).