Managing Human Population Size
Overview
What should a government do if its population is growing faster than its land, water and jobs can cope with? Or if, instead, it is shrinking so fast that there will soon be too few workers to support the old? Around the world, countries have tried to steer their own population size, sometimes gently through education and free contraception, sometimes forcefully through laws that limit family size. The results have been dramatic, and not always as intended.
In this lesson you will study the main strategies for managing population size: access to contraception, anti-natalist and pro-natalist policies, education, health care and migration control. You will examine real, named examples, including China's one-child policy, France's pro-natalist incentives and the role of female education in Kerala, and weigh the benefits and limitations of each. Population management is where biology, economics, ethics and the environment meet.
Objectives
- 7.3.1 Describe strategies for managing human population size, limited to: (a) access to contraception (b) population policies: pro-natalist and anti-natalist (c) access to education (d) access to healthcare (e) control of migration.
- 7.3.2 Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies for managing human population size in 7.3.1.
Audio Lesson
Listen to this lesson in the app
Mind map
This topic is mapped out so you can see how the ideas connect.
Open the mind map in the app
Flashcards
Quick recall practice on the facts this topic is tested on.
Practise these cards in the app
Lesson Note
Complete Note Available on the Green Bridge App
Get the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer for the complete IGCSE library: past papers, mark schemes, mind maps, flashcards and audio lessons.
Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Managing Human Population Size. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- An anti-natalist policy is one that aims to: A. Increase the birth rate B. Decrease the birth rate C. Increase the death rate D. Encourage immigration Answer: B
- Which country is best known for a pro-natalist policy that raised its birth rate to one of the highest in Europe? A. China B. Japan C. France D. India Answer: C
- China's one-child policy was introduced in 1979 mainly because the government was worried about: A. A falling population B. Too few workers C. A population growing too fast for its resources D. Too many elderly people Answer: C
- Which strategy is widely seen as the most effective long-term way to lower a birth rate? A. Banning migration B. Educating girls and women C. Building more cities D. Lowering the retirement age Answer: B
- Better health care can lower a birth rate because it: A. Makes contraception illegal B. Increases infant mortality C. Reduces infant mortality, so couples choose to have fewer children D. Forces couples to have one child Answer: C
Work through these questions in the app
Work through these questions in the app
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
Want to practice mock questions on Managing Human Population Size? Download the Green Bridge CBT app to access mock questions and full practice assessments for this topic.
Download The App On Google Playstore
Everything you need to excel in your exams
