Reference no: EM133290360

Overview;

Before civilization began to impact the human life cycle approximately 10,000 years ago, human beings had high birth and death rates. Today the world is in the midst of a demographic transition - a transition to low birth and death rates - as the ability to control both disease and reproduction increases. Along the way, between these extremes, populations go through an intermediate period of continued high birth rates, combined with low death rates, resulting in a population explosion.

Because countries span a continuum along this transition, looking at the present demographics of countries around the world provides an opportunity to look forward or backwards in time: a post-transition country can get a glimpse of a situation resembling its own past from countries still in transition, and a transitional country may get a hint of its demographic future from countries that are further along the continuum.

Population momentum is the time lag between a change in birth/death rates and the slowing of population growth. In Step 1, we explore the effect of changing the age of reproduction, using Nigeria as an example. You will consider the human and ecological impacts of unchecked population growth as well as the human cost of China's successful attempt to curb its own growth.

it by 5 years, and record your results. Use the Reset button at the bottom of the dialog to restore the original rates between each different treatment.

What if Nigeria suddenly had the same birth and death rates as the USA? In the simulator, click on the birth rates button, choose "USA" from the pull-down menu, and click "Apply." Do the same for death rates. Then, run the simulator to year 2150 (hit the Run button three times). While doing so, watch the shape of the population pyramid (the graph by age group). Answer the following, in the data table:

Procedures

Select Nigeria from the Country pull down menu.
Run the simulator with the default settings to 2050, and record the results in the data table below.

Predict what will happen when the average age of childbearing women is increased by 5 years (fewer teenage pregnancies) and record your predictions (rise, fall, similar) below.

Run the simulator, increasing the childbearing age by 5 years, then 15 years, and then decreasing by 5 years. Record your results in the table below. Predict what will happen when the average age of childbearing women is increased by 5 years (fewer teenage pregnancies) and record your predictions (rise, fall, similar). Use the Reset button at the bottom of the dialog to restore the original rates between each different treatment.