Discuss demographic transition theory and its four stages with examples.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary. Demographic transition theory maintains that population growth is kept in check and stabilizes as countries experience economic and technological development, which, in turn, affects birth and death rates. According to this theory, population growth changes as societies undergo industrialization, modernization, technological progress, and urbanization. During these processes, a nation goes through four stages, from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates. Put simply, the greater the human development, the lower the fertility and death rates.The first stage is called preindustrial society. In this initial stage, there is little population growth. The birth rate is high because people rarely use birth control: They want as many children as possible to provide unpaid agricultural labor and support parents in old age, but a high death rate offsets the high birth rate. No country exists in this current stage of the demographic transition.The second stage is called early industrial society. There is significant population growth because the birth rate is higher than the death rate. The birth rate may even increase over what it was in Stage 1 because mothers and their children enjoy improved health care. Couples may still have large numbers of children because they fear that many of them will die, but the death rate declines because of better sanitation, better nutrition, and medical advances (e.g., immunizations and antibiotics). Most of the world's poorest countries-including sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, and Yemen-are currently in Stage 2.The third stage is called advanced industrial society. As the infant mortality rate declines, parents have fewer children. Effective birth control reduces family size. The decrease in child care responsibilities, in turn, enables women to work outside the home. Brazil, Mexico, and some Asian countries are currently in Stage 3.The fourth stage is called postindustrial society. In this stage, the demographic transition is complete, and the society has low birth and death rates. Women tend to be well educated and to have full-time jobs or careers. If there is little immigration, the population may even decrease because the birth rate is low. This is the case today in Canada, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Europe.