P+-+Problems+with+Populations

·  Before looking at the Population growth, it is important to understand the reasons why people in LEDC's have large families: ·  Children are needed to work on the land and grow food or for income for the family ·  Few people have access to pensions so rely on their children to keep them in old age or when sick ·  Many children die when they are young so a couple will have 8 children in the hope that 4 will survive ·  The most popular religions in poor countries - Islam and Catholicism disprove of birth control and encourage large families ·  Birth control methods may not be available ·  Poor education especially of girls   · <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> In MEDC's the major problem is that of an ageing population and the reduction of the birth rate. The main reasons are: <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-GB; msobidifontweight: bold; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Higher living standards and better healthcare has meant that people are living longer <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-GB; msobidifontweight: bold; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> As most children being born survive until old age less children are being born <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-GB; msobidifontweight: bold; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> As women have the same rights as men they are putting off having children till later in life <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-GB; msobidifontweight: bold; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Children cost a great deal of money - The average cost is estimated at £165,000 from birth to 18 yrs <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-GB; msobidifontweight: bold; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> People do not have to rely on children as they have good pensions and the country provides lots of services for the old age pensioners <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-GB; msobidifontweight: bold; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Many now have access to birth control methods, are educated and now have the choice of a career or a materialistic lifestyle. <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-GB; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> At present the average number of children per couple in Italy, Spain & the UK is 1.3 - replacement level is 2.1  <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Problems in LEDC’s – why are populations so large? **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Problems in MEDC’s – the problems of an aging population **