Population Case Studies

• Since 1950s experienced great changes in population
• Baby booms in 1950-60 increased population from 562 million to over 820 million
• Increase in population also caused by rapid falling death rates which created a population growth of 2.8%
• 1970, china has ¼ of world population, only 7% of arable land
• China feared war, disease and famine
• 1979, one child policy. Regulations that restrict family size and late marriage.
• Generally illegal to have more than one child, fined if do
• Strongly controlled in urban areas. Rural families allowed two children if first was female or disabled
• Increase in the number of forced abortions and sterilizations
• Underpinned by a system of rewards and penalties, vary hugely from area to area
• Very successful (Growth rate decrease from 2.8% to 0.628%)
• Gender ratio in China a problem, as girls not wanted

•

• East of city centre
• Population of 8220
• Houses had poor amenities and by 1960 had fallen into a poor state of repair
• House scheme was designed to rehouse many people in the area. Some others were moved out to new council estates on the edge of the city.
• Redevelopment included the high rise Byker wall which shelters many low rise housing areas from noise
• Social housing at present, 58% live in council housing
• 7% unemployed
• Mainly white people : 95.43%
• Health is good for 54% of people
• 2094 people are Level E of social grade (State benefit, unemployed lowest grade workers)
• 2820 people have no qualifications
• 21.26% of the population are between 30 and 44 years old

• 30 km north of Newcastle
• Population of 1495
• Was a stopping place for drovers who led cattle down from the hills of Scotland. In 1950 changed to a successful farming village
• There were 3 farms, a number of small holdings and around 500 inhabitants
• Has changed into a commuter area. Also used by non agricultural workers who want to keep horses. Farms have been developed into houses and a number of large private house have been built on the edge of the village
• 97% white
• Health is good for 74%
• 422 people are A/B social grade (higher/intermediate managerial / administrative / professional)
• 391 people have level 4/5 qualifications
• 1.46% unemployed
• 21.77% are between 45 and 59 years old

A policy which aims to enourage more births through the use of incentives

The decline in fertility and the increase in life length has raised three concerns:

• A decrease in the supply of labour
• The socioeconomic implications of an ageing population
• The long term prospect of population decline and demise

1939- Frances Pro Natalist Policy

• Payment of up to £1064 to couples having their third child.
• Family allowances to increase the purchasing power of three child families.
• Maternity leave on near full pay for 20 weeks for the first child to 40 weeks or more for the third child.
• 100% mortgage and preferential treatment in the allocation of three bedroom council flats.
• Full tax benefits to parents until the youngest child reaches 18.
• 30% fare reduction on all public transport for three child families.
• Pension schemes for mothers/housewives.
• Child-orientated development policies e.g. provisioning of creches, day nurseries etc.
• Depending on the family’s income, childcare costs from virtually nothing to around €500 a month for the most well off of families.
• Nursing mothers are encourage to work part-time or take a weekly day off work.