Description and objectives:
Geographers and policy makers use population statistics to understand human population growth and diffusion through time at a variety of spatial scales. This assignment will reinforce your knowledge of population dynamics, terms, and issues. At the end of this assignment, you should be able to understand how to use and interpret a number of key demographic variables. The assignment also requires that you think about the underlying drivers of population change.
Students are encouraged to discuss the assignment with fellow classmates. However, students must write their answers independently. Answers should be typed using complete sentences and paragraphs.
Your submission should follow incorporate/include the following components:
a) A heading that includes your name, student ID#, course/term, and assignment #
b) Clearly written answers using complete sentences and paragraphs (pay special attention to spelling and grammar). Please complete answers directly below each question.
c) A completed Table 1 and Figure 1, included at the end of your submission. Table 1 can be completed in Word. Figure 1 can be completed by hand, with image editing software, or generated in Excel. If completed by hand, a scanned copy of Figure 1 is required (scans or photos taken using mobile phone cameras are fine provided that they are clear and readable). Figure 1 and Table 1 must be incorporated into your Word or PDF file – they cannot be separate files.
d) When using direct quotes and paraphrases from the textbook, please cite them using a consistent and appropriate citation style (i.e. “Norton and Mercier, 2019: 132”) and include the full reference at the end of your assignment.
e) Answer questions based on the information provided in the lecture and textbook. If this is your first experience using or making a scatterplot, you may want to do some basic research on scatterplots and “lines of best fit”.
Questions:
Complete Table 1. (2 points)
a) In Table 1, seven countries are experiencing population growth. Why is the calculated doubling time likely misleading? Which country is experiencing replacement-level fertility at this time and why? (2 points)
In addition to crude birth rates and crude death rates (upon which doubling time is based), what is one additional factor that is important to consider when trying to predict future population totals? Explain how this factor can likely influence a country’s projected population total. (2 points)
3. Using the blank scatterplot figure at the end of the assignment, plot the relationship between per capita Gross National Income (GNI) and crude birth rates (CBR) for the nine countries in Table 1. To do this, place a point on the graph for each country where the X-axis and Y-axis values intersect. Label each country’s plotted point accordingly. (3 points)
4. Does the completed Figure 1 provide evidence that there is a relationship between a country’s GNI and its CBR? If so, is it a strong or a weak relationship? Is it positive or negative? (If you choose, you may draw a line of best fit through the points to help you see the general trend.) Describe the relationship that exists and provide an explanation of the results. In other words, what is the relationship between economic development and birth rates? Don’t forget to draw from lecture materials and textbook to help you answer this question. (2 points)
5. Based on the data for the countries included in Table 1, is there a correlation (i.e., a clear positive or negative relationship) between a country’s population density and its level of economic development as measured by per capita Gross National Income? Explain using specific examples. (3 points)
6. a) Summarize the four stages of the demographic transition model. (2 points)
b) Which of the nine countries in Table 1 can be considered in Stage 2 of the demographic transition model based Gross National Income PPP per capita, Crude Birth Rates, and Crude Death Rates? Which countries are in Stage 3? Which are in Stage 4? (2 points)
c) Why have some countries in Stage 4 of the demographic transition model adopted pro-natalist policies? (2 points)
Table 1: Demographic and Other Data for Selected Countries (2020)
Country
Total Population
(millions)*
Gross National Income PPP per capita (US$)**
Crude Birth Rate
(/1000)*
Crude Death Rate
(/1000)*
Rate of Natural Increase
(%)
Doubling Time (years)
Total Fertility Rate*
Total Area (km2) †
Population
Density
(people /
km2)
Percent urban *
Pakistan
220.9
4,800
28
6
3.6
796,095
37
Vietnam
96.2
7,910
16
6
2.1
331,210
34
South Korea
51.8
43,100
6
6
0.9
99,720
81
Canada
38.2
49,990
10
8
1.5
9,984,670
81
Lithuania
2.8
37,420
10
14
1.6
65,300
67
Niger
24.2
1,330
48
10
7.1
1,267,000
16
Belize
0.4
6,700
20
5
2.3
22,966
45
Macao(China, SAR)
0.7
123,380
9
3
0.9
28
100
Brazil
211.8
14,890
14
6
1.7
8,515,770
87
Sources:
* World Population Data Sheet (Population Reference Bureau, 2020)
**The World Bank (2019)
† The CIA World Factbook (2021)
Formulas Required for Completing Table 1
Rate of Natural Increase (%) = (CBR-CDR) / 10 (round to one decimal place).
Doubling time (years) = 70 / Rate of Natural Increase (RNI) (round doubling time to a full year).
Population Density = Total Population / Total Area (round to one decimal place).
Crude
Birth
Rate
(/1000)
Gross National Income (US$, PPP)
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