Chapter 14

Population and Urban Life

Chapter Outline Populations, Large and Small Understanding Population Growth Population & Social Structure Population & Social Problems Population in the United States Urbanization Place of Residence and Social

Relationships Where This Leaves Us

Populations, Large and Small

Demography is the study of population – its size, growth, and composition.

Demographers focus on births, deaths, and migration.

Currently, the world population is 6.3 billion, 2 1/2 times as many people as lived in 1950.

Fertility has increased while life spans have lengthened and mortality has decreased.

Populations, Large and Small Mortality rate – number of deaths per every 1,000 people in a population in a given period.

Fertility rate – number of births per 1,000 women in a population in a given period.

Birth rate – number of births per 1,000 persons in a population in a given period.

Migration – movement of people from geographic area to another.

Internal migration – people move to different homes within a country.

Immigration – people move to a different country.

Understanding Population Growth World population in 2008 as about 6.3 Billion Human population continues to grow every day World birth rate in 2008: 21 births per 1000

people World mortality rate in 2008: 8 deaths per 1000 In 2008 world population grew by 1.3% At this rate, in 2050 world population will

increase by another 6.5 Billion Most growth in poorer nations. i.e. Africa’s

population growing; Europe’s population shrinking

Understanding Population GrowthPopulation in Former Times Birth rates and mortality rates were about 40 per 1000 throughout most of human history. Populations were stable.

The average women spent ages 20 – 45 pregnant or nursing and would produce between 6 – 10 children.

Infant mortality rate was high. About 25% to 33% of all babies died before 1 yr of age

Infant Mortality Rate – the number of babies who die during or shortly after birth.

Understanding Population GrowthDemographic Transition in the West

Europe and America from 1700s saw agricultural advances, better nutrition, and better hygiene – led to decline in Mortality Rates.

Industrial Revolution changed work – no longer needed as many children for agricultural labor or to replace those that died.

Demographic transition is the process through which a population shifts from a high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates.

Understanding Population GrowthDemographic Transition in the Non-West In less developed nations birth and death rates remained at preindustrial levels until 20th century.

Development in Latin America, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore improved standards of living – death rates decreased. Better sanitation and healthcare in poorest countries lowered death rates latter 20th century. Birth rates did not change – population rose.

Now birth rates have declined and death rates have increased in some areas due to AIDS.

World Population Picture, 2008

AreaBirth Rate

Death rate

Annual Increase in Pop

Projected Pop increase

2006 - 2025

World 21 8 1.3% 1,294,652,000

More developed

nations12 10 0.2% 41,853,000

Less developed

nations23 8 1.5%

1,252,798,000

Connections:Personal ApplicationsHave you traveled to a less developed country? If you did, the odds are that you got a nasty stomach

virus for a day or two, but suffered no health problems. Why are American tourists less susceptible to severe

bouts of malaria, cholera, or dysentery, when these diseases kill millions in these countries each year?

Unlike residents of less developed countries, tourists start out healthy. They have healthier immune systems

If they come in contact with dangerous germs, most should be able to fight against infection due to healthier immune systems.

I. Ghana: Is Fertility Too High?Birth rate: ~ 32 / 1000 ; death rate: ~10 / 1000 The Effects of Social Roles on the Fertility

Rate: Children are important in Ghana – women who do not bear children, particularly sons, are not valued. They believe they must bear 4 children for 2 to survive to adulthood. Children are also needed for agriculture.

The Effects of High Fertility Rates on Society: Schools, sanitation systems, or adequate infrastructure cannot be maintained under such great population pressures.

Policy Response: contraception, education

Population and Social Structure

Polygamous Families in Africa

Many families in Africa, especially polygamous families, have numerous children, and overpopulation is a cause for some concern.

Children are a source of status and position for Ghanaian women.

Average Number of Births per Woman 1950 - 2008

Region 1950 2008

Africa 6.6 4.9

Asia 5.9 2.4

Europe 2.6 1.5

Latin America 5.9 2.5

North America 3.5 2.1

Oceania 3.8 2.4

Italy: Is Fertility Too Low?

Population and Social Structure

The Effects of Social Roles on Fertility Rates: Italian women are educated and many work. Women’s status is close to men’s. Children are less necessary. Birth rate is 1.3 / 1000.

Zero population growth exists when fertility rate is about 2.1 per woman – replacement of man and woman with a bit to spare.

The Effects of Low Fertility Rates on Society: older generation is as large or larger than younger – ‘graying’ society, aging work force.

Policy Responses: birth incentives, immigration

Families in Europe In Europe, many families

have only one child, and under population is increasingly a cause for concern.

Fertility incentives such as paid maternity, cash bonuses and housing subsidies for having more children.

Costs of raising children are higher. Incentives have not resulted in raised birth rates.

Population Change in EuropeCountry Birth

RateDeath Rate

Annual change in Population

(natural increase)

Average number

children per woman

Projected Pop **

Change 2006 - 2050

Denmark 12 10 .2% 1.8 0%

Germany 8 10 -.2 1.3 -13

Hungary 10 13 -.4 1.3 -11

Italy 9 10 0 1.3 3

Romania 10 12 -.2 1.3 -20

Spain 11 9 .2 1.4 -6

United Kingdom

13 9 .3 1.9 26

** Reflects impact of immigration as well as birth and death

Population and Social Problems

Population pressures can contribute to numerous social problems including:

◦ environmental devastation

◦ overuse and misuse of resources

◦ poverty

Environmental Devastation: A Population Problem?

Environmental Devastation

Deforestation is devastating tropical rainforests in Brazil, the Philippines, and elsewhere.

Deforestation creates more land for food production, but top soils are soon eroded leaving desert or barren rock.

Population and Social ProblemsPoverty in the Least-Developed World Poverty and malnutrition result from:

◦ war ◦ corruption ◦ inequality in nondemocratic countries ◦ exploitive world economic system

Policy Responses: ◦ family-planning programs

◦ improving the status of women

Population in the United States Fertility Rates – about 2.1. Zero population

growth. Sharp reductions in social class, racial and religious differences.

Mortality Rates – average age at death is in the late 70s. Most people who live to age 65 can expect to live another 20 years.

Migration Patterns – Immigration accounts for an increase of about one million people per year. Internal migration was higher in US than most other developed nations until 2008 – dropped to the lowest in 60 years due to economic downturn.

Results of Internal Migration

Urbanization of poverty as those left behind are more often economically disadvantaged.

Declining tax base, especially in urban areas. Environmental hazards related to automobiles

required for commuting from the suburbs to the urban cores.

Population in the United States

The Changing U.S. Population

Urbanization

Urbanization is the process of concentrating populations in cities.

Suburbs are communities (primarily residential) that develop outside of cities.

1850 – 2% world population lived in cities with 100,000 or more people.

Today – 25% world population…and 33% of US population lives in cities larger than 100,000.

Suburbanization – growth of suburbs

Theories of Urban Growth and Decline

Structural functional theory: Urban Ecology: urban development is seen as evolutionary

and functional. Efficient for distributing goods and services.

Conflict perspective: White Flight and Government Subsidies: finds nothing natural in urban growth and

decline. Competing economic and political forces lead to growth or decline of cities.

Urbanization

Urbanization

The Nature of Modern Cities

The Industrial City: Density Central business district

The Postindustrial City: Move from Secondary to Tertiary Production Easier Communication and Transportation Urban Sprawl and Edge Cities

Edge cities are suburban centers that now have an existence largely separate from the cities that spawned them

Urbanization

Urbanization in the United States

A metropolitan statistical area is a county that has a city of 50,000 or more in it plus associated neighboring counties.

A nonmetropolitan statistical area is a county that has no major city in it and is not closely tied to such a city.

UrbanizationUrbanization in the Less-Developed World Problems: fast paced growth; inadequate infrastructure (roads, schools, sewers)

Differs from developed world:

1. high rate of births over deaths

2. many cities are primarily government, trade, and administrative centers – offer few working-class jobs. Unskilled become part of informal economy of artisans, peddlers, and beggars

Urbanization Trends Around the World

Place of Residence and Social Relationships

Theoretical Views – earlier theorists viewed the greater size, heterogeneity, and density of urban living as leading to a breakdown of the normative and moral fabric of everyday life.

Today, theorists believe that individuals experience the city as a mosaic of small worlds that are manageable and knowable.

Urban Living

Realities of Urban Living:

1. Social networks – no evidence that urban people are disproportionately lonely, alienated or estranged.

2. Neighborhood integration – physical proximity is no longer a primary basis of intimacy – family and friends remain intimates.

3. Quality of life – cities are exciting and convenient. They also have liabilities of noise, crime, and higher cost of living. Many opt for suburbs and small towns.

Place of Residence and Social Relationships Urban Living

Suburban Living

Suburbs are intensely car dependent. As suburbs have grown, so have traffic jams and long

commutes.

Small Towns and Rural Living

In desirable rural areas, good-paying jobs are scarce and housing expensive.

Many rural families live in inexpensive manufactured homes.

Connections: Social Policy

Many urban planners and activists are redesigning suburbs to reduce social isolation and alienation.

New suburbs are being designed with bike paths, parks, and front porches.

Some towns widen sidewalks and encourage downtown restaurants to add street-side tables.

Others encourage builders to place stores on the first floor of downtown buildings with apartments above.

Through these actions, planners and activists hope to bring a sense of community to suburbs. 

Where this leaves us…1. Demographic transition – drop in mortality and fertility

rates during modernization.

2. Fertility rate linked to social structure.

3. Zero population growth leads to labor force shortages, an eroded tax base and nationalistic fear of immigration. Population growth can lead to environmental devastation.

4. U.S. population growth and change due to immigration.

5. U.S. central cities shrinking; suburban areas increasing

6. Structure-functionalists: cities evolve naturally; conflict theorists: cities the outcome of competing interests.

7. Industrial city: density, central business district. Postindustrial city: tertiary sector, few labor jobs. Suburbs dense and diverse.

Quick Quiz

1. The birthrate is the:

A. number of children that a woman has during her lifetime.

B. number of births per 1000 people in a population at a given time.

C. incidence of childbearing.

D. number of women of childbearing age in the population.

Answer: B

The crude birthrate is the number of births per 1000 people in a population at a given time.

2. Demography is the study of:

A. population.

B. urbanization.

C. transition.

D. population shift.

Answer: A

Demography is the study of population.

3. The demographic transition is:

A. the process of moving from the traditional balance of high birth- and death-rates to a new balance of low birth- and death-rates.

B. the process of moving to a society with increasing mortality and fertility.

C. when a country has a high fertility rate.

D. when a population experiences negative population growth.

Answer: A

The demographic transition is the process of moving from the traditional balance of high birth- and death-rates to a new balance of low birth- and death-rates.

4. An edge city is:

A. a city that is ‘cutting edge’ with new and exciting trends

B. a city bordering on a county line.

C. a city completely dependent on the central city area for retail and services

D. a city that formerly was dependent on the central city area but now is separate and autonomous from the adjacent central city area.

Answer: D

An edge city is a city that formerly was dependent on the central city area but now is separate and autonomous from the adjacent central city area.