The changing human population - The demographic transition

3 important questions on The changing human population - The demographic transition

What are the four stages of the Demographic Transition Model?

  • Pre-modern stage.
    • Non industrial societies.
    • Birth and death rates are high.
    • Infant mortality is especially high.
  • Urbanizing-industrializing stage.
    • Began in EU and USA early 19th century.
    • Death rates fel but fertility remained high.
  • Mature Industrial stage.
    • Birth rates fell.
    • Population became gradually stable.
      • Like stage 1, but at a much higher absolute level than stage 1.
  • Post Industrial stage.
    • Population has stabilized thus completing the demographic transition.
    • This stage may see population levels decline.

What are the two main criticisms of the Demographic Transition Model?

  • Emergence of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s saw death and infant mortality rates rise instead of fall in some developing countries, which halted the countries' progress.
  • The anti-Malthusian idea of the DTM that populations settle into comfortable stability, could not be sustainable if every country adopts the Western-style consumerism.

What is the significance of the DTM for sociologists?

The model encourages us to take a long-term view of human development in a global perspective and provides a point from which to start doing so.

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