Chapter 13Population Growth and Urbanization

Chapter OutlineThe Global Context: a World View of Population Growth and UrbanizationSociological Theories of Population Growth and Urbanization Social Problems Related to Population Growth and Urbanization

Chapter OutlineStrategies for Action: Responding to Problems of Population Growth and UrbanizationUnderstanding Problems of Population Growth, Population Decline, and Urbanization

Doubling TimeThe time it takes for a population to double in size from any base year.It took several thousand years for the worlds population to double from 4 million to 8 million.A few thousand years to double from 8 million to 16 million.

Doubling TimeAbout 1,000 years to double from 16 million to 32 million.Less than 1,000 years to double to 64 million. The most recent doubling, from 3 billion in 1960 to 6 billion in 1999, took only about 40 years.

Worlds 10 Largest Countries in Population

Current Population Trends and Future ProjectionsAccording to the United Nations, the worlds population is growing at an annual rate of 1.14%, resulting in the addition of 76 million people per year.Projections of future population growth suggest that world population will grow from 6.5 billion in 2005 to 9.1 billion in 2050.

Population DensityThe number of people per unit of land area. The population density of India is 869 people per square mile, compared with 80 people per square mile in the United States.

Population Density

AreaPopulation Density(People per Square Mile)World125World More-developed countries61Less-developed countries165

Fertility RateAverage number of children born to each woman.Replacement level fertilityThe level required to maintain the population size.

Population Growth Rates andFertility Rates: 2005 and 2050

QuestionThere should be government intervention in determining the maximum number of children people can have.Strongly agreeAgree somewhatUnsureDisagree somewhatStrongly disagree

Population MomentumContinued population growth as a result of past high fertility rates that have resulted in a large number of young women who are currently entering their childbearing years. Despite the below-replacement fertility rates in more developed regions, population in these regions is expected to continue to grow until about 2030 and then to begin to decline.

Population TrendsThe total number of people on this planet is rising and is expected to continue to increase over the coming decades.About 40% of the worlds population lives in countries in which couples have so few children that the countries populations are likely to decline over the coming years.

QuestionWhat do you think is the ideal number of children for a family to have?0-123+

GSS National Data

EducationNo High School DegreeHigh School DegreeCollege Education0-15/54.7%4.4525157.862.23+4437.533.4

UrbanizationTransformation of a society from a rural to an urban one.Urban population - Persons living in cities or towns of 2,500 or more residents.Urbanized area - One or more places and the adjacent densely populated surrounding area that together have a minimum population of 50,000.Megacities - Cities with 10 million residents or more.

SuburbanizationAs more and more people moved to the suburbs, urban areas surrounding central cities, the United States underwent suburbanization.As city residents left the city to live in the suburbs, cities experienced deconcentration, the redistribution of the population from cities to suburbs and surrounding areas.

QuestionIf you could live anywhere in the United States that you wanted to, would you prefer a city, suburban area, small town, or farm?CitySuburban areaSmall townFarm

U.S. Metropolitan Growth and Urban SprawlA metropolitan area is a densely populated core area together with adjacent communities. The largest city in each metropolitan area is designated the central city.

U.S. Metropolitan Growth and Urban SprawlThe growth of metropolitan areas is often referred to as urban sprawlthe ever increasing outward growth of urban areas. Urban sprawl results in the loss of green open spaces, the displacement and endangerment of wildlife, traffic congestion and noise, and pollution liabilities.

Structural-Functionalist PerspectiveFocuses on how changes in one aspect of the social system affect other aspects of society. The demographic transition theory of population describes how industrialization has affected population growth.

Structural-Functionalist PerspectiveThe development of urban areas is functional for societal development. Urbanization is also dysfunctional, because it leads to increased rates of anomie as the bonds between individuals and social groups become weak.

Demographic Transition TheoryIn agricultural societies high fertility rates offset high mortality and ensure survival of the population. As a society becomes industrialized, improved sanitation, health, and education lead to a decline in mortality.

Demographic Transition TheoryIncreased survival rate of children along with their declining economic value leads to a decline in fertility rates. About 1/3 of the worlds countries have completed the demographic transitionthe progression from a population with short lives and large families to one in which people live longer and have smaller families.

Conflict PerspectiveEmphasizes the role of power, wealth and profit motive in development of urban areas.Capitalism contributes to migration of rural inhabitants to cities.Individuals and groups with wealth and power influence decisions that affect urban populations.

Symbolic Interactionist PerspectiveFocuses on how meanings, labels, and definitions affect population and environmental problems.Women in pronatalistic societies learn that control of fertility is socially unacceptable.Efforts to redefine cities in positive terms are reflected in campaigns sponsored by convention and visitors bureaus.Distinctive cultures and lifestyles of cities influence their residents self-concepts, values and behaviors.

Classical Theoretical ViewUrban living emphasizes individuality and detachment from interpersonal relationships.Primary social bonds weaken in favor of superficial social bonds.Social solidarity weakens leading to loneliness, depression, stress.

Modern Theoretical ViewCities do not interfere with functional and positive interpersonal relationships.Kinship and ethnicity help bind people together.City is a patchwork quilt of urban villages that help individuals deal with the pressures of urban living.

Percentage of Population inUrban Areas, by Year

Problems Associated with Below-Replacement FertilityIn more than 1/3 of the worlds countriesincluding China, Japan, and all of Europefertility rates have fallen below the 2.1 children replacement level.Low fertility rates lead to an increasing proportion of elderly members.

Problems Associated with Below-Replacement FertilityLow fertility results in fewer workers to support the pension, social security, and health care systems for the elderly. Below-replacement fertility rates raise concern about a countrys ability to maintain a productive economy, because there may not be enough future workers to replace current workers as they age and retire.

Environmental Problems and Resource ScarcityCountries that suffer most from shortages of water, farmland, and food are countries with the highest population growth rates. About 1/3 of the developing worlds population live in countries with severe water stress.

Environmental Problems and Resource ScarcityThe impact that each person makes on the environment, their environmental footprint, is determined by their cultures patterns of consumption. The environmental footprint of someone in a high-income country is about 6 times bigger than that of someone in a low-income country.

QuestionEnvironmental pollution is one of the top five social problems in our country today.Strongly agreeAgree somewhatUnsureDisagree somewhatStrongly disagree

Urban Housing ProblemsSlums are concentrated areas of poor housing and squalor in heavily populated urban areas.In the U.S., slums that are occupied primarily by African Americans are known as ghettos, and those occupied primarily by Latinos are called barrios. Nearly one in three city dwellers worldwide live in slums characterized by overcrowding, little employment, and poor water, sanitation, and health care services.

QuestionHow often do you spend a social evening with someone who lives in your neighborhood?Daily/WeeklyMonthly/YearlyNever

GSS National Data

IncomeLowMiddleHighDaily/Weekly42.7%34.8%28.5%Monthly/Yearly25.233.646.2Never32.131.725.3

Global InsecurityRapid population growth is a contributing factor to global insecurity, including civil unrest, war, and terrorism. Developing countries are characterized by a youth bulgea high proportion of 15- to 29-year-olds relative to the adult population. The combination of a youth bulge with other characteristics of rapidly growing populations, such as resource scarcity, high unemployment rates, poverty, and rapid urbanization, sets the stage for political unrest.

Poor Maternal, Infant, and Child HealthIn developing countries one in four children is born unwanted, increasing the risk of neglect and abuse. The more children a woman has, the fewer the parental resources (parental income and time and maternal nutrition) and social resources (health care and education) available to each child. The adverse health effects of high fertility on women and children are, in themselves, compelling reasons for providing women with family planning services.

Transportation and Traffic ProblemsA study of 85 U.S. urban areas found that in 2003 traffic congestion caused 3.7 billion hours of traffic delay and wasted 2.3 billion gallons of fuel.The average annual delay per traveler increased from 16 hours in 1982 to 40 hours in 1993 and 47 hours in 2003.Many public roads in urban areas are afflicted with what some call autosclerosis clogged vehicular arteries that slow rush hour traffic to a crawl or a stop, even when there are no accidents or construction crews ahead.

Governments Views on Population Growth Rate

Reasons for not Walking More

Proposals to Create more Walkable Communities

RegionalismCollaboration among central cities and suburbs that encourages local governments to share common responsibilities for common problems.

Strategies for Reducing Urban Growth in Developing CountriesPromoting agricultural development in rural areas.Providing incentives to industries and businesses to relocate from urban to rural areas.

Strategies for Reducing Urban Growth in Developing CountriesProviding incentives to encourage new businesses in rural areas.Developing the infrastructure of rural areas, including transportation systems, clean water supplies, sanitary waste disposal systems, and social services.

Annual Expenditures on Luxury Items

ProductAnnual ExpenditureMakeup$18 billionPet food in Europe and the United States$17 billionPerfume$15 billionOcean cruises$14 billionIce cream in Europe$11 billion

Funding Needed For Basic Needs

Social or Economic GoalAdditional Annual Investment Needed to Achieve GoalReproductive health care for all women$12 billionElimination of hunger and malnutrition$19 billionUniversal literacy$5 billionClean drinking water for all$10 billionImmunizing every child$1.3 billion

Quick Quiz

1. Why do rural dwellers migrate to urban areas?flee from warto find employmentflee from natural disastersall of these choices

Answer: DRural dwellers migrate to urban areas to flee from war, to find employment and flee from natural disasters.

2. According to structural-functionalists, what does the expansion of urban areas lead to?increased rates of povertyincreased rates of inequalityincreased rates of anomieincreased rates of labeling

Answer CAccording to structural-functionalists, the expansion of urban areas leads increased rates of anomie.

3. John lost his job when the factory where he worked moved out of state. Urban unemployment and poverty are partly the result of what happened to John. This is an example of what?gentrificationdeindustrializationreindustrializationdeconcentration

Answer: B John lost his job when the factory where he worked moved out of state. Urban unemployment and poverty are partly the result of what happened to John. This is an example deindustrialization.

4. Demographic transition theory refers to:the idea that as urbanization progresses fertility rates will inevitably decline.the idea that as urbanization progresses fertility rates will rise necessitating governmental population control.the idea that as agricultural societies transform into industrial ones there will be accompanying rises to fertility.none of these choices.

Answer: ADemographic transition theory refers to the idea that as urbanization progresses fertility rates will inevitably decline.

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