Populations in Transition - CASE STUDIES

1960's improvements in service, like health care, = population explosion

• Lack of school spaces and resources = more children selling water on streets than in school
• Pupil teacher ratio 1:76
• The educated are leaving rural areas but no jobs in the cities
• Not enough University spaces

= Forming rebel groups like the GPP (Group for Patriotism and Peace)

--> Young people = highly aspirational

--> ICT & Communications makes them aware of poor quality of education in their country

--> Results in violence and turning to drugs

Since 1945 increasingly ageing - birth rates and death reates declining!

Currently 15% = +65  --> By 2020 it will be 25%

Problems:

• inadequate nursing facilities
• depletion of labour force --> Japanese businesses moving abroad
• high costs of funding pensions and healthcare
• falling demand for schools and teachers
• increase burden on working population
• need for in-migration of workers

However..

• Increased friendship + social bonds
• Many continue to work - especially in fields
• " Grey economy" - spending power

N.B. Disney World have special yearly passes for elderly! :)

By 2014 there will be more over 65's than under-16's

• Life expectancy increasing --> living longer and having fewer children
• Dependancy ratio is rising , causing concerns....
• Harder to maintain living standards for dependant population
• Workforce = put under strain
• Widening gap between have and have-nots

SO had to - 

• Raise retirement age
• Younger people having to pay into personal pension schemes
• People having to care more for elderly 

Although there are some benefits...

• Eldery = spending power
• 35% of people 75+ volunteer to help others
• Market in 'late love' dating websites

WHY are Polish moving to the UK?

• Creation of the EU - allows free movement and employment within EU
• UK did not place limits on number of Polish immigrants
• English already second language of many
• UK skills shortage - lack of manual labourers
• Up to 5 times higher wage in UK + high unemployment in Poland
• Better technology and communications e.g. Skype make travel easier + cheaper transports

Pro's?  

• Work for less money and longer hours 
• Available workforce + fill skills gap  
• Strong work ethic 

Con's?

• - Perception of 'taking jobs' 
• - low wages -> UK mortgages = house share
• - discrimination = social instability

1979 China established 4 SEZ's --> received most investment - economic boom

Why are people moving to the city?

• Inland rural areas received little investment - underdeveloped with harsh conditions
• Surplus of labour in countryside - 600 million farmers but only 170 million needed to farm --> Due to MECHANISATION
• Relaxation of rules - used to not be allowed to move away from birth neighbourhood
• Effects on RURAL areas:
• Remittances = more money in rural economy
• Fewer people = less resource pressure
• Old and women remain - land cultivated less efficiently - future of agriculture?
• 'Host generation' - parents leaving children --> social issues
• Effects on URBAN areas:
• Cheap labour available fuelling growing economy and manufacturing
• Spreading urbanisation of rural and coastal areas - infrastructural improvements
• Loss of culture and history 
• Overcrowding + lack of resources
• Pollution: especially air in Beijing

Chikumbuso Widows Centre - Help for HIV positive Women and Children

Take plastic bags and crochet / weave them into art 

e.g. bags, wallets, phone holders

Products sold domestically and internationally

• Profit shared between maker , centre and the rest of the widows
• Making the women self - sufficient 
• Creating community bonds

People fleeing from Zimbabwe to SOUTH AFRICA

What conflict are they fleeing?

• Economic collapse + Political violence under Mugabe - Secret Police - beating people
• Facing extreme hunger after crop failure

Impacts on the refugees?

• Often no belongings, no shelter or employment
• Targeted by locals who fear unemployment - violence
• Sexual predators  and robbers on borders taking advantage of illegal immigrant status
• People fear to go to hospitals and doctors in case they are arrested = bad health

Impacts on South Africa?

• Under pressure to accommodate refugees and pressure Zimbabwe to resolve issues
• Pressures on resources + overcrowding
• Churches housing people and being used as classrooms
• Looking very permanent!

China's one-child Policy - Imposed 1979

People only allowed one child - few exceptions: if both parents are only children, if one child died in sichuan earthwuake

One child given free nursery at work

If you have a second child, you must pay back all costs of first child e.g. healthcare

Has dramatically reduced bith rates :D 33-17/1000

Problems:

• Girls being abandoned and neglected : people value males more highly --> can work
• Only children - having social issues / communication problems
• Highlights wealth gap : rich families can afford feed : poorer families protesting
• Future problems : high dependancy ratio, not enough children to care for elderly

FRANCE : 1939 - 'Code de Famille'  --> Sucess: France = second highest birth rate in Europe

• Cash incentives + subsidised holidays 
• Banned contraception untill 1967
• Total 26 months parental leaves
• More money for those families with 3 children
• Childcare facilities subsidised by government
• 16-26 paid maternity leave

ROMANIA: 1960 reached near 0 population growth

• 1966 government banned abortion on demand
• People who remained childless after age 25 taxed 10-20% of income
• Divorce made more difficult
• Family allowances raised + monetary prizes on birth of 3rd child

Initially a success: in first year live births increased 92.8%

BUT - success was short lived: Police relaxed control, abortions increased + incentives weren't enough to sustain rate of incresae

Family law drafted in 1957 - Women subordinate to men

Recently Moroccan Civil Society becoming more organzied and aware - campaigns to raise awareness of womens rights

Progrees was slow, but in 2004 campaign to reform the Family Law approved:

• Husband and wife share joint responsibility for family
• Wife has no legal abligations to obey husband
• Men and Women have right to divorce
  • Women can also now have right of custody of children
• Men and women legal age of marriage = 18
• In marriage contract women can impose condition that husband cannot take other wives