Albany State University Current World Problems Discussion

Lesson 3: How do we Manage Changes in Population?Early adopters of industrialization and medical technologies had more gradual declines in birth rates and death rates than other countries whose demographic transitions occurred once antibiotics and other technologies were more abundant and available. While the population in many (especially poorer) countries is still growing, it is actually relatively stable or even decreasing in many other countries. More economic growth has raised the living standards in some countries to a level where having more children has made it difficult to increase their living standards further. We see this happening in countries that have a high GNP or income per capita. At the same time, many other countries with lower GNPs continue to grow in population as they try to improve their living standards. But blanket statements are challenging, and regional variations are substantial – such as the projected doubling in population on the African continent in the coming decades. Overall, we find ourselves today with a relatively few countries considered “more developed” that have stopped growing in population, while the majority of countries – most of whom are relatively less wealthy – have higher growth rates that are contributing to a planet with unprecedented population growth.ASSIGNMENTTask: Read Chapter 3. Watch the UN video about sustainability and population. In 250-300 words, answer the questions belowWhat are the causes of population growth and population decline?What is the relationship between population growth and development?What are governments doing to address the problems that come from population growth and population decline? Provide at least two international examples from the news.Early adopters of industrialization and medical technologies had more gradual declines in birth rates and death rates than other countries whose demographic transitions occurred once antibiotics and other technologies were more abundant and available. While the population in many (especially poorer) countries is still growing, it is actually relatively stable or even decreasing in many other countries. More economic growth has raised the living standards in some countries to a level where having more children has made it difficult to increase their living standards further. We see this happening in countries that have a high GNP or income per capita. At the same time, many other countries with lower GNPs continue to grow in population as they try to improve their living standards. But blanket statements are challenging, and regional variations are substantial – such as the projected doubling in population on the African continent in the coming decades. Overall, we find ourselves today with a relatively few countries considered “more developed” that have stopped growing in population, while the majority of countries – most of whom are relatively less wealthy – have higher growth rates that are contributing to a planet with unprecedented population growth.ASSIGNMENTSource: Hite, Kristen, A. and John L. Seitz. Global Issues. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf, (6th Edition). Wiley Global Research (STMS), 2021.