Population Case Studies

China - One Child Policy

BIRTH CONTROL

• China

• Prevented up to 400 million births.

• Average number of children per women decreased from 5.7 in 1970 to 1.8 today.

• Helped towards a sustainable environment: population growth has slowed down so fewer resources being used.

• Fewer resources are being used

• Both parents able to work so are financially better off

• Children get more time with their parents

• Less poverty

• The population pyramid is lopsided as parents want boys to look after them in old age

• A large number of boys that are unmarried as there are less girls

• Big gender gap of 60 million

• Babies are aborted or abandoned

Incentives of following the policy:

·         Cash bonuses

·         Longer maternity leave

·         Free education

·         Free medical care

·         Better child care

·         Preferential housing arrangements

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Transmigration: Indonesia (Non-birth Control Policy)

• A population policy that aims to move people from poverty into rural areas. Opportunity to improve the quality of their lives.

• Hasn’t helped for a sustainable future: Only reducing impacts of population growth – the population is still getting bigger.

• Spreads poverty out

• Resettlement is expensive

• Eases overcrowding of people

• New migrants lacked skills to farm the land

• Religion clashes

• Traditional land rights ignored

• Acceleration of soil erosion and deforestation

• Encouraged the government to increase national security and control people to outer lands

Ageing Populations - UK

• In 2005, 16% of the population over 65

• By 2041 this could be 25%

• More people dependant on the working population

• Life expectancy increasing: 81.5 years- women and 77.2 for men.

• Baby boom generation are now retiring

• Birth rate decreased since the 1970s

• More elderly living in poverty – working population not large enough to pay pensions

• Government struggling to pay state pensions (tax paid by working population is not enough)

• Health service is under pressure, elderly need more healthcare than younger people

• Raise the retirement age - by 2046 the retirement age with be 68 for both men and women. People work longer meaning more taxes are paid to support the elderly generation.

• Encouraging young immigrants. 84% of immigrants in 2004 are 34 or under. Increases number of people paying taxes.

• Encourage women to have children – more working class to support the dependant.

• Take out private pensions so people won’t be so dependent on the state pension.

Disincentives for not following the policy:

·         Lost privileges

·         Sacked from job

·         Heavy fines

·         Raising age of marriage

·         Forced abortions and sterilisations

·         Quota of births in a community

·         Granny police – monitored birth control

Immigration within the EU: (Poland)

Push factors from Poland

·         High unemployment – 19%

·         Low average wages – one third of the average EU wage

·         Housing shortages – just over 300 houses for 1000 people.

Pull factors to the UK

·         Ease of migration

·         More work and higher wages -  big demand for tradesmen

·         Good exchange rate –the pound worth a lot more the polish currency

Impacts on Poland

·         Population of Poland fell by 0.3% between 2004 and 2007

·         Shortage of workers in Poland

·         Economy boosted by money sent back to Poland from the UK – about (Euro)3 billion in 2006

Impacts on the UK

·         Population increased

·         Immigration boosted the economy – a lot of money sent back to Poland

·         New shops opened (polish items)

·         Catholic churches increased

Immigration of Refugees

• In 2001, 45,000 immigrants from Africa were caught and refused entry to Spain.

• Many refugees from war. 2 million people forced out of homes due to the Sierra Leone war

• Working population reduced – fewer people contributing to the economy

• Families become separated

• Social tension between immigrants and the Spanish

• More unskilled workers in Spain – filled in the gap

• Average wages workers have fallen because so many people want the jobs

• Birth rate increased (young immigrants)