The Demographic Transition
Today in class, we read and annotated a packet on the stages of the demographic transition.
All countries start in stage one, and though we spent most of human history in stage one, no country today remains there. In stage one, both birth rates and death rates are high, resulting in very low growth. Stage two is next, and resulted from the Industrial Revolution in Europe and North America, and from the Medical Revolution in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In stage two, death rates decline from better medicine and healthier communities, and high birthrates, once again from improved medicine. Stage three is next. In stage three, their crude birthrates suddenly drop as a result of economic and societal changes, mostly less women being stay-at-home mothers/ homemakers as they enter the labor force in higher numbers, and people moving to urban environments rather than rural environments. This results in smaller families and less children. Countries reach stage four when birthrates decline so much that the rate of natural increase is zero.
Some countries, such as those in Western and Northern Europe, are even argued to have entered a fifth stage wherein the population is actually decreasing, but the demographic transition does not account. for this.
All countries start in stage one, and though we spent most of human history in stage one, no country today remains there. In stage one, both birth rates and death rates are high, resulting in very low growth. Stage two is next, and resulted from the Industrial Revolution in Europe and North America, and from the Medical Revolution in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In stage two, death rates decline from better medicine and healthier communities, and high birthrates, once again from improved medicine. Stage three is next. In stage three, their crude birthrates suddenly drop as a result of economic and societal changes, mostly less women being stay-at-home mothers/ homemakers as they enter the labor force in higher numbers, and people moving to urban environments rather than rural environments. This results in smaller families and less children. Countries reach stage four when birthrates decline so much that the rate of natural increase is zero.
Some countries, such as those in Western and Northern Europe, are even argued to have entered a fifth stage wherein the population is actually decreasing, but the demographic transition does not account. for this.
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