Definitions of Overpopulation - Research Paper Example

Definitions of Overpopulation Introduction There are three popular definitions of overpopulation. The one given by T. R Malthus says that overpopulation occurs when population growth causes the output per head to fall to the subsistence level and the rising mortality rate causes population growth to stop. The second definition is from the optimum theory under which overpopulation occurs when populations exceed the optimum for a country with given resources and technology. The third definition was given by researchers on rural underemployment and according to them, overpopulation occurs when the marginal productivity of labor is zero [Dav80]. Causes There are various causes of overpopulation. It can be attributed to an increase in birth rate or a decline in mortality rate due to medical advances, technology and better healthcare facilities. Population in a country also increases due to the influx of immigrants or due to a decrease in emigrants (people who leave the country). Countries like the USA and Canada experienced a rise in population because of the increase in immigrants from overseas. Unsustainable use of resources depletes them, which in turn leads to overpopulation [Ewa10]. China is the most populated country in the world and India is the second most populated country. In India, several religious and cultural factors are responsible for overpopulation. For instance, many religious people in the rural areas of India are against the idea of using contraceptives as they consider using them as sinful. The causes of overpopulation in India can be generalized to other Asian developing countries because they have similar cultures. Following are the causes of overpopulation in developing Asian countries similar to India: 1. Early age at marriage Early marriages take place in primitive cultures like those of South East Asia. Parents want their children to get married at an early age because of family traditions. Marriage at an early age increases the reproductive span especially for women. Young girls who are in their teenage are very fertile and after an early marriage they have babies one after the other. 2. Early puberty Girls in hot climatic areas reach puberty at the age of 12 or even less. Parents want their daughters to get married as soon as they reach puberty. Girls who get married right after puberty tend to beget more children. 3. Standard of living People who have a low standard of living want to have more earning hands so they produce more children. Due to poor medical facilities, women in rural areas have miscarriages and children die in infancy. As a result parents want to have more children because of high infant mortality. 4. Education Parents who are literate do justice to their children by giving them due attention and care. Instead of having seven or eight children, they have nuclear families and concentrate on the upbringing of their children, give them proper education and morals. Unfortunately, the rural poor are illiterate and they keep on having children for the sake of having more earning hands and hence do not realize the importance of good upbringing. 5. Social Customs and Tradition In a lot of developing countries, the social customs and norms make it binding on parents to get their children married at an early age. Daughters are thought to be a burden on parents, and relatives, community members consider it shameful to have unwed daughters [Cma74]. 6. Rise in Consumption Levels As the consumption level rises, the output per head falls. The aggregate demand in a country rises and this depicts that people want to consume more. A country might progress but the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita will fall due to rising consumption levels. 7. Low level of technology Because of low levels of technology, a country operates below its potential output. The output per head is a lot less than the output per head if technology were used. 8. Lack of Resources When the rate at which resources deplete increases, upward pressure is put on the price level. The general price level in the economy also increases and the standard of living of people falls [Pet04]. Effects According to the U.S. Census, the world population was six billion in 1999 and on October 31, 2011, it reached seven billion. Predictions for the future are that the world population will increase at the same rate if no effective measures are taken. The effects of overpopulation are detrimental for the environment as a whole [Dor]. Following are the effects of overpopulation: 1. An inadequate supply of fresh water: as population increases, fresh water’s demand outstrips its supply. Sanitation becomes difficult when there is a water shortage and diseases spread rapidly. 2. A depletion of natural resources: natural resources are depleted because of rising levels of consumption. 3. Increased levels of air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination and noise pollution: pollution has a direct relationship with rising population. The more the people, the more pollution they will cause. 4. Deforestations and loss of ecosystems: due to population there will be an increase in the demand for households. Forests will be cut down to build housing for the rising population. Natural habitat of the animals will be lost and the whole ecosystem is disturbed consequently. 5. Changes in atmospheric composition and consequent global warming: overpopulation causes pollution which in turn causes global warming. The ice cap of the world has reduced significantly due to global warming. 6. Loss of fertile land and increases in desertification: deforestation causes soil erosion and acid rain reduces the fertility of soil. When trees are cut, the humidity in the atmosphere reduces and arid conditions are experienced. When this aridity continues for a long time, desertification occurs. 7. Mass species extinction: the pollution caused by overpopulation causes extinction of animal and plant species. 8. High infant and child mortality: the more the population, the more the burden on health care services. Each person will not get proper medical attention and the death rates will rise, especially for children. 9. Increased chances of the emergence of new epidemics and pandemics: overpopulated countries like China and India experienced the rapid spread of epidemics and pandemics like SARS, bird flu and dengue as people live in close proximity. 10. Starvations and malnutrition or poor diet with ill health: due to overpopulation, food shortages occur. The food available to an average household will fall as population increases. 11. Poverty coupled with inflation: overpopulation creates an excess labor supply. This excess labor supply will not be absorbed into the job markets and poverty will increase. Due to high consumption levels, the economy will heat up and prices will shoot up. 12. Low life expectancy: With burden on healthcare services, life expectancy will fall. 13. Unhygienic living conditions: Because of unavailability of water, unhygienic conditions will prevail. People living in slum areas are exposed to all kinds of diseases because of poor hygienic conditions. 14. Increased crime levels: since poverty and unemployment will be prevalent, people will resort to committing crimes [IMw] 15. Lower GDP per capita: the total output of the economy is distributed over large number of people as population expands. 16. Government is stretched economically: overpopulations is also a burden on the government’s reserves [Mob] A larger community litters more and wastes more. As a result the already limited resources are depleted and the environment is polluted [Dal04]. Solution Governments should take initiatives to create awareness in rural areas regarding the use of contraceptives. It will take time to change the mindset of people as a lot of people are against the use of contraceptives because of cultural constraints. From 1925 to 1948, BIRTH CONTROL MOVEMENT was started in Puerto Rico because it was believed that the country’s poverty and underdevelopment were linked to overpopulation. Under this movement, sterilization and birth controls were used. Such measures should also be adopted by other developing countries [Iri08]. The population has to be reduced to fit the ecological limit. The consumption per head will increase and people will have a better standard of living. Another solution for overpopulation is to increase the ecological limit and its efficiencies rather than reducing the population. However, a drawback of this solution is that it will lead to a reduced per capita consumption and average health of the population will deteriorate. This solution conforms to the capitalist theories for solutions to overpopulation [Fra07]. Conclusions Overpopulation is as dangerous as any epidemic for a country. Governments should pay special attention to it and start birth control programs to control it. An increasing population is a burden on the economy and government’s reserves. Each breadwinner for a family will have to feed more mouths due to the population explosion. It not only reduces the output per head but also causes pollution as people tend to litter their localities and use more cars. With long term strategic plans, overpopulation can be controlled but governments have to be active for that. Non-governmental organizations in developing countries should create awareness in the rural areas about the hazards of overpopulation. Works Cited Dav80: , (Grigg, 1980), Ewa10: , (McLeish, 2010), Cma74: , (Cmai, 1974), Pet04: , (Richardson, 2004), Dor: , (Lin), IMw: , (I. Mweti), Mob: , ( MobileReference), Dal04: , (Dallo, 2004), Iri08: , (López, 2008), Fra07: , (Rotering, 2007), Read More