Relationship of Population on Resources (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Population & Resources

• Economic activities all involve the use of resources and energy

• The rate at which resources & energy are used depends on two main factors:

  • The population size

  • The rate of development

• Many resources including energy sources are finite and non-renewable

• Each country/area has a carrying capacity

• The population that results in the highest standard of living is the optimum population:

  • There are not so many people or so few resources that the standard of living falls

  • There are enough people to develop the resources of the country 

• Underpopulation is when the population is too small to develop the resources effectively

• Over population is when there are too many people or too few resources to ensure a high standard of living

• Population pressure occurs when the population is greater than the carrying capacity

• The Earth's population is now over 8 billion

• Whether there are enough resources to sustain the population has been examined by different theorists

Theories of Thomas Malthus

• Malthus proposed his theory in 1798

• A pessimistic view on the relationship between population and resources (specifically food) which states:

  • Population growth is increasing at a faster rate than food supply

  • There will be time when there is not enough food to sustain the population

  • As a result, population growth will stop as a result of a Malthusian catastrophe - famine, disease or war

  • These are known as positive checks as they increase the death rate

  • Preventative checks are factors which decrease the birth rate 

  • These limiting factors maintain the balance between population and resources

• Malthus's predictions were incorrect as they came before much of the technological developments which have enabled food supply to be increased

• Neo-Malthusians today base their views on Malthus' theory. They argue that:

  • We have now used most of the available agricultural land 

  • The amount of fertile land is in decline

  • Food prices are increasing

  • The population continues to increase

• They suggest that famines are one example of how Malthusian theory has proved to be correct

• Neo-Malthusians argue that population control is essential to avoid Malthusian catastrophe

Theories of Ester Boserup

• A Danish economist, Ester Boserup put forward her theory in 1965 

• An optimistic view of the relationship between population and resources (specifically food) which states that:

  • Population growth will stimulate developments in technology to increase food production

  • More efficient resources will be discovered/used

  • Renewable resources will replace non-renewable