Deck 6: Population Growth and Economic Development: Causes, Consequences, and Controversies  

Question 1

The world rate of population growth is closest to

A)1%.
B)2%.
C)3%.
D) 4%.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Are developing countries experiencing a demographic transition much like the one developed countries did at their earlier stages of economic development or are there important differences?

Answer 2

The demographic transition is broadly similar for middle-income countries, although death rates have fallen more quickly. In some low-income countries birth rates remain stubbornly high, while death rates have declined.

Question 3

Is there evidence that an increase in per capita income stimulates population growth?

Answer 3

No. This is an assumption of the Malthusian population trap, but one not borne out by the evidence.

Question 4

Explain the reasons for the hidden momentum of population growth and state its implication for population levels.

Question 5

Explain what is meant by "investment in children," describing the goals and methods of the parents.

Question 6

Provide a concise statement about the relationship between population growth and absolute poverty, female wages, rural-urban migration, availability of pensions, availability of healthcare, availability of education, and rate of investment.

Question 7

Evidence presented in the text suggests that birthrates among developing countries are lower with

A)higher growth.
B)higher inequality.
C)higher GNP per capita.
D) All of the above.

Question 8

In Stage III of the demographic transition,

A)the birth rate and the death rate are relatively low.
B)the birth rate and the death rate are relatively high.
C)the birth rate is relatively high and the death rate is relatively low.
D) the birth rate is relatively low and the death rate is relatively high.

Question 9

The government of China has explicitly stated that the goal of its strict population control measures ?is to raise income per capita. What are the mechanisms at work in such a claimed relationship? Are there any counterarguments?

Question 10

Explain carefully the opportunity costs of a mother's time, what may lead these to change over time, and what effects these changes have on family decisions.

Question 11

What is meant by the demographic transition? What are the differences in the demographic transition between the current developed economies and developing countries?

Question 12

Children under the age of 15 represent about __________ percent of the population of developing countries.

A)25
B)29
C)53
D) 61
E) 75

Question 13

China has adopted a unique approach to the population growth problem. Please explain. Have they been successful? Please explain.

Question 14

Has population growth been a burden for China? Please answer true or false and explain.

Question 15

India's population is expected to overtake that of China within the next decade. What differences between these two nations could have contributed to this outcome?

Question 16

Projections place world population by 2050 at

A)between 4 and 6 billion.
B)between 6 and 8 billion.
C)between 8 and 10 billion.
D) between 10 and 12 billion.

Question 17

Why might improvements in children's public health care services lower fertility?

Question 18

The hidden momentum of population growth is caused by

A)the demographic transition.
B)population age structure.
C)the opportunity cost of a woman's time.
D) children's contribution to income.

Question 19

What are some of the differences between the population policies of China and India? What factors may have contributed to their success or failure?

Question 20

The Malthusian population trap assumes that

A)contraception is unavailable.
B)technological progress may be rapid.
C)fertility increases with per capita income.
D) All of the above.

Question 21

Which of the following will cause the largest reduction in the birthrate?

A)the population becomes less religious
B)public healthcare improves
C)education becomes more available
D) an increase in the opportunity cost of a woman's time

Question 22

Which of the following is a direct implication of the view that childbearing is an economic decision?

A)People will not have additional children unless they can earn a profit from doing so.
B)Social factors have no effect on childbearing decisions.
C)Compulsory education will increase fertility because educated children have the potential to earn higher salaries.
D) Fertility should fall with improved opportunities for women to work in jobs outside the home.

Question 23

The Malthusian population trap model has been criticized on the grounds that it

A)ignores the role of technological progress.
B)assumes that population growth is primarily determined by individual choice over?the number of children to have.
C)Both (a) and (b) are correct.
D) Neither (a) nor (b) is correct.

Question 24

Which of the following geographic regions is expected to experience the largest percentage increase in its population between 2003 and 2050?

A)Asia and Oceania
B)Latin America
C)North America
D) Africa

Question 25

The rate of natural increase in the population of developing countries is most correlated with

A)advances in developed country technology.
B)increases in developing country income.
C)an increase in the fertility rate.
D) All of the above.

Question 26

Approximately how many women were estimated to be "missing" in China?

A)20-30 million
B)35-48 million
C)44-50 million
D) 52-58 million

Question 27

In recent years, the fertility rate in developing countries has been

A)declining.
B)holding steady.
C)increasing.
D) showing no particular pattern.

Question 28

Evidence suggests that population growth has negative effects on

A)economic growth.
B)poverty reduction.
C)environment.
D) education.
E) All of the above.

Question 29

At present, approximately how many years would it take for the world's population to double?

A)35
B)58
C)96
D) 211

Question 30

The number of live births per 1000 people in the population per year is the

A)hidden momentum of population growth.
B)population growth rate.
C)demographic transition.
D) crude birth rate.

Question 31

The proportion of the total population aged 0-15 and over 65, is known as the

A)dependency burden.
B)unproductive population.
C)surplus labor.
D) population momentum.

Question 32

Which of the following would most likely reduce the birthrate?

A)public health improvements
B)an increase in child mortality
C)a decline in the availability of secondary education
D) a reduction in the opportunity cost of a woman's time
E) All of the above.