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The growth rate in the United States is low relative to many other countries. Re

ID: 49056 • Letter: T

Question

The growth rate in the United States is low relative to many other countries. Read the pamphlet “World Population: More Than Just Numbers” and visit the website, “U.S. Census Bureau: International Data Base (IDB)”. Once in the IDB, select (one at a time) China, Mexico, and the United States (specifying the years as 1950, 2009, and 2050) and compare the shapes of the graphs for these countries, and how the shapes are projected to change in the future.

Choose one of the graphs (at the IDB population pyramid site – make sure to indicate the graph chosen). Explain what the shapes of that population pyramid tell about the population.

Based on your readings, would you expect a program to increase the education of women within the population to lead to changes in the shape of the population pyramid? Explain your answer. What if there was an increase in the education of men?

In your opinion, what strategies would be most effective in controlling population growth in undeveloped countries?

Is the low rate of population growth a problem in the U.S.? Why or why not?

Explanation / Answer

The graph chosen is Mexican International Data Base population graph. Based on the data observed, even though the population is increasing 12K per 10 year cycle, the growth rate is declining at a rate of 1/5th percent based on the same cycle. This decrease is partially due to a decrease in the fertility rate, birth rate, as well as infant mortality rates. This decrease coupled with a steady increase in life expectancy levels, the projections revealed a steady widening pyramid.

Education plays a crucial role in population growth. Either males or females with no education have large families of children. In contrast, educated couple have small family size comprising of lesser children. This shows us the role of education in population growth. Better education means broader knowledge, higher socioeconomic status, and less fatalistic attitudes toward reproduction than do less education.

The strategies that would be most effective in controlling population growth in undeveloped countries include enforcing the vital statistics. The primary focus points should be education and economic status. In addition, a good balance of culture and moral ethics can have a big impact on the population.