Youth Bulge

• A theory that societies with rapidly growing youth population often ends up with
  • High unemployment rates (because the population is still young)
  • Dissatisfied youths
• These youths are more susceptible to recruitment into rebel/terrorist groups
• Countries with weak political institutions are the most vulnerable to youth-bulge related violence/social unrest

Rapid Urbanisation

• An increase in the number of people living in cities or towns
• Cities in developing countries lack the infrastructure, resources or jobs to accomodate the influx of people
• This makes conditions for black market conditions which in turn foster gangs/paramilitary groups (groups organised like a military force)

Heightened expectation among job seekers

• An abundance of skilled labour with degrees but no jobs available creates social unrest
• This can be seen in the middle east where there is a mismatch between the skill set companies are looking for and what high schools/colleges are producing

Environmental stresses

• Youth bulges often lead to degradation of forests, water supplies and arable land
• These degradations/shortages creat conflicts over scarce resources which can generate anti-government feelings
• This can be seen in sub-saharan Africa

Other causes

• Low infant mortality rate
• High fertility rates
• low self-esteem from young people (which can lead to unemployment, dependency on parents, civil unrest and terrorism)

• Create more jobs
• Improve access to family planning measures (improed healthcare, contraception programs and education about contraception)
• Do nothing (the youth bulge-related bloodshed eventually burns out once youths grow up or kill each other)

• Youth bulges in societies can be economically productive as the populations can drive up economic gains
• These youth bulges can also shape politics (South Africa's youth bulge played a part in the anti-apartheid movements)