Ch 2, key issue 4 (why might the world face an overpopulation problem)
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Malthus predicted that population growth would eventually outpace food supply, leading to widespread famine and poverty. He believed population grew geometrically while food production increased arithmetically. While some evidence supports Malthus, critics argue he underestimated human innovation in developing new technologies, opening new lands, and increasing yields. Boserup took an opposing view, believing population growth triggers agricultural innovations to increase food supply. Evidence supports both theories to some extent, though neither perfectly predicts outcomes. Overall, overpopulation remains a concern if resources are depleted and innovations do not match population growth.
Ch 2, key issue 4 (why might the world face an overpopulation problem)
- 1. Chapter 2, Key Issue 4: Why Might the World Face an Overpopulation Problem? Theories for the relationship between population and resources
- 2. Is there likely to be a population crisis?
- 3. Pessimistic Approaches • Thomas Malthus (1776-1834) • Wrote “An essay on the Principle of Population” in 1798 which described a forthcoming population catastrophe • World population was then nine million • World population has now grown to close to SEVEN billion
- 4. Malthus’ core principles • Food is essential for life • Population increases faster than food supply • Therefore Malthus predicted that population would grow until it reached the limit of food supply, then there would be widespread poverty and famine.
- 5. Malthus recognized that: Population, if left unchecked, will grow geometrically: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 Whereas food supply increases arithmetically as the amount of land is finite: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- 6. And therefore he said … … there would be a Malthusian catastrophe: At the point where Food supply Population population reaches its limit of food supply there will be war, famine and disease. Time
- 7. Malthusian Checks • Malthus stated that once population reached this point, checks would come into play to readdress the balance between population and resources: 1. positive checks – increased levels of misery (war, famine and disease) 2. preventative checks – celibacy, later marriage etc
- 8. Was Malthus right? • Evidence to support Malthus: – There has been a population explosion – Repeated wars & famines in Sahel region of Africa suggest population growth has outstripped food supply – FAO says that more than 800m people are chronically malnourished – UN say that by 2050 4.2billion people will be living in areas that cannot provide enough water for basic needs.
- 9. The Sahel region of Of Africa
- 10. But … • Critics say that Malthus did not allow for: – the development of new technology – The opening of new land for cultivation (mainly in the LEDW – Less Developed World) – The development of irrigation systems which have allowed for increased yields – The Green Revolution – widespread introduction of high-yield crop varieties, pesticides, fertilizers etc – The slow down in population growth as countries develop economically and progress to the latter stages of the DTM - Demographic Transition Model.
- 11. Neo-Malthusians • Neo = new • Accelerated population growth in LEDCs since the 1950s renewed Malthusian fears • 1972, The Club of Rome published “Limits to Growth Model”
- 12. Club of Rome – basic conclusion • If present growth trends continue, and if associated industrialization, pollution, food production and resource depletion continue unchanged, the limits to growth on this planet will be reached some time in the next one hundred years. • The most probable result being a sudden & uncontrollable decline in population and industrial capacity.
- 13. Is the Club of Rome right? • Don’t panic yet! • Doesn’t take into account the ability of humans to respond to situations and innovate • Human responses have changed e.g. alternative energy, HYV – High Yield Variety seeds sent to Africa
- 14. A more optimistic approach • Ester Boserup (1910-1999) • Wrote “The Conditions of Agricultural Growth” in 1965 • Opposite to Malthus • People have resources of knowledge and technology to increase food supply as necessary
- 15. Boserup’s main points • Environments have limits that restrict population • But these limits can be changed using technologies • Population growth is the trigger for innovation to allow food supply to increase • e.g. irrigation, weeding, crop intensification, better seed quality, tools, techniques etc
- 16. Was Boserup right? • Evidence which supports Boserup: – Increasing intensity (agricultural intensification) of shifting cultivation – Move from ‘slash and burn’ practices to using irrigation, fertilization, field prep, & weed control in rural areas with higher population densities – The Green Revolution – widespread introduction of high- yielding varieties, pesticides etc – Hugely increased yields allowed more people to be fed – GMOs – Genetically Modified Organisms
- 17. Was Boserup right? • Boserup admits that overpopulation can lead to unsuitable farming practices which may degrade the land • E.g. population pressure as one of the reasons for desertification in the Sahel region
- 18. What Do You Think?
- 19. Malthus: Theory & Reality
- 20. Why Might Overpopulation be a Concern? •Declining birth rates -Reasons for declining birth rates •Reliance on economic development •Distribution of contraceptives -Reducing birth rates with contraception
- 21. Family Planning
- 22. World health threats The epidemiologic transition Stage 1: Pestilence and famine The Black Plague Pandemics
- 23. •World health threats -The epidemiologic transition •Stage 2: Receding pandemics -Cholera and Dr. John Snow
- 24. World health threats The epidemiologic transition Stage 3: Degenerative diseases Most significant: Heart disease and cancer Stage 4: Delayed degenerative diseases Medical advances prolong life
- 25. •World health threats -The epidemiologic transition •A possible stage 5: Reemergence of infectious diseases? -Three reasons why it might be happening: •Evolution •Poverty •Improved travel
- 26. The Most Lethal Infectious Disease: AIDS
- 27. The End. Up next: Migration