| Back | Unit G2   Changing Human Environments
Theme 1 Investigation Population Change		  
     
  Question: Outline policies to tackle the demographic challenge of high birth rates [10] May 2010 Mark scheme below:  
 

e.g. Kenya (Birth Rate 40/1000), Tanzania (38/1000). [2008] Uganda (48/000) [2010]

Policies to reduce the birth rates along with the progressive increase in health and educational initiatives. The most famous anti-natal policy is that of China which since 1979 has had the one child policy. Other countries also have birth reduction policies (Kenya, India). Answers do not have to apply to the whole country.

A suggested case study example: In Kerala (SW India) fertility has dropped from 7 to 3. RESEARCH THIS A LITTLE e.g.  http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/topics/popn2.html or WATCH http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/eclips/pages/eng_14to18_geo_population_kerala.shtml

Good notes about a range of countries http://geographyfieldwork.com/GovernmentBirthControl.htm

•          Sterilisation of women.

•          Health care.

•          Contraceptive advice.

•          Education on family planning.

•          High (90%) literacy rate amongst women.

•          Education gives women confidence to take control of their own lives.

•          Economic changes bring stability to society such as a minimum wage, owning property, the establishment of trade unions to argue for workers’ rights.

General statements about providing education, food and jobs for a growing population need to be connected with a specific policy to tackle the children issue in order to be highly relevant.

Alternative ideas to birth rate policies such as governments encouraging TNCs to establish to provide work for the expanding labour force deserve credit.

  
     
  Asia's Baby Crisis - Singapore birth rate plummeted http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qzsi-Bgliw  
     
  Question: Outline the issues created by an ageing society [10] January 2009  
  A description of the issues is given here . Candidates may also consider that attempting to address such issues is an issue in its own right and may outline some attempted solutions to the initial issues.  
 
  • Government initiatives to encourage births (e.g. Chlid Trust Fund in the UK).
  
 
  • Encourage immigration
  
 
  • Increase industrial productivity
  
 
  • Raise the retirement age
  
 
  • Increase taxes to pay for pensions and health care of the old.
  
  Equally valid are some positive issues such as less crime, less road deaths, smaller class sizes, saving money on the education budget. Less pressure on the environment to cope with a rising population, so fewer houses built.  
     
  We are also asked to consider the relative success of such policies.  
     
     
 

Telegraph.co.uk
Britons face working until 70 to help bring public debt under control 5/5/09

  
  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/recession/5281206/Britons-face-working-until-70-to-help-bring-public-debt-under-control.html  
     
  Parenthood Policies in Europe http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4837422.stm#france  
     
 

BBC news report - Should we have a one child policy ?

  
 

 

  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDkOJXOjNDo  
     
     
 

Population decline in Russia - maternity rights at fault?

  
 

 

  
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDu_7h8FBxM

 
     
  Will new Russian benefits boost births?  
 

 

  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbxwI7-NiGk  
     
  Russia Threatened by Plummeting Population  
 

 

  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynOzSB1s4I4