Demography

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  • Created by: ftpptf
  • Created on: 10-03-16 18:23
What is demography?
The study of populations and their characteristics.
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Define the term 'birth rate'.
Number of LIVE births PER 1000 of the population PER YEAR.
2 of 25
What name is given to sudden increases in birth rates?
Baby boom
3 of 25
When were the 3 baby booms?
After the two World Wars and in the 1960s.
4 of 25
Why was there a baby boom after each of the World Wars?
Servicemen returned home and started families - this has been postponed because of the war.
5 of 25
Why was there a baby boom in the 1960s?
The economy was healthy so people were prosperous.
6 of 25
Overall, what has been the general trend in birth rate from the 1900s until now?
General decline
7 of 25
What 2 factors affect the birth rate?
No. of women of childbearing age (15-44yrs) & no. of children women have.
8 of 25
Define the term 'total fertility rate'.
The average no. of children women have in their fertile years (15-44yrs).
9 of 25
What has been the general trend in TFR?
General decline
10 of 25
Name 4 reasons for the decline in the birth rate/TFR.
Changes in the position of women, decline in infant mortality rate, children becoming economic liabilities and child centeredness.
11 of 25
Why has the changing position of women caused a decline in the birth rate/TFR?
Easier access to divorce, abortion+contraception (greater control over fertility)+changes in attitudes to family life/role of women/greater opportunities for women mean women are choosing to have children later/not at all – putting careers first.
12 of 25
Define the term 'infant mortality rate'.
Number of infants that die BEFORE their 1ST BIRTHDAY PER 1000 babies born ALIVE PER YEAR.
13 of 25
Why has the IMR fallen?
Improved housing, better sanitation, better nutrition, better hygiene, improved antenatal+postnatal clinics and immunisations against childhood diseases like whooping cough and measles.
14 of 25
What was the IMR in the UK in the 1900s, 1950s and then in 2012?
1900s = 154 (15% of babies died before age of 1) - 1950s = 30 - 2012 = 4.
15 of 25
Why has a decline in the IMR caused a decline in the birth rate/TFR?
There are less births because people don't need replacement babies.
16 of 25
Explain why children becoming economic liabilities has caused a decline in the birth rate/TFR.
In the past, children used to be economic assets (used to make money) as they could work - now laws ban child labour so parents are spending money on children rather than earning from them (economic liability).
17 of 25
What did Hirst say about the cost of children and in what year was this said?
Hirst 2014 - each child costs approx. £154,000 by age of 18 (so people can't afford to have lots of children).
18 of 25
Why has child centeredness caused a decline in the birth rate/TFR?
Childhood is now seen as a 'special' period by parents so parents are having fewer children in order to spend more time and money on the children they have + give them more attention.
19 of 25
Briefly describe the previous and thus the future trends in birth rates.
Office for National Statistics = 2009 0.2 % fall in live births from 708,711 in 2008 to 706, 248 in 2009. Predicts no. of births will remain constant and period up to 2041 = 800,000 per year.
20 of 25
What are 3 effects of these changes in fertility?
Smaller families, alteration in dependency ratio and changes in public services/policies.
21 of 25
Why will the changes in birth rate affect the family?
Smaller families are easier to handle so women can work – creates dual earner couples. Financially better off couples might be able to afford larger families because can afford childcare. Average family size decreased as birth rate dropped.
22 of 25
What is the dependency ratio?
The relationship between the size of the working/productive part of population and size of non-working/dependent part of population (e.g. children, pensioners+unemployed). Earnings/savings/taxes of working part supports dependent part.
23 of 25
What is the effect of the change in birth rate on the dependency ratio?
Short term = drop in births results in smaller burden of dependency on working population. Long term = fewer children results in fewer future workers so greater burden of dependency as more pensioners than those in work.
24 of 25
What is the effect of the change in birth rate on public services and policies?
Lower birth rates=less schools+child health services needed+less housing needed. However, many decisions are political so for example instead of reducing no. of schools if drop in birth rate, government could decide to have smaller class sizes.
25 of 25

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Define the term 'birth rate'.

Back

Number of LIVE births PER 1000 of the population PER YEAR.

Card 3

Front

What name is given to sudden increases in birth rates?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

When were the 3 baby booms?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Why was there a baby boom after each of the World Wars?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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