Economic Chapter 10: Population economics 

 Population

• Population refers to the number  of people living in a certain area (region) at a given time.  The total number of people is established   by carrying out population   census.
• Population census refers to the physical counting of people in the country  after  a given  period  of time. In Uganda, population   census is normally  carried  out after every  10 years.

The importance of population   census in the economy

1. It helps to determine the total population   size and its distribution in the country.   This   is important for national planning purposes.
2. It helps to determine the population growth rate of the country over time. This helps to put in place control measures to regulate the rate of population growth.
3. Population figures are used in the calculation per capita income of the country. This gives an indication of standards of living in the country.
4. It helps to determine the sex composition of the population that is, the ratio of men to women.
5. It helps to show the geographical distribution of the population. This is important for regional resource allocation.
6. It helps to determine the rate of internal and external migration. This enables the government to come up with measures to control migration of people.
7. It helps to determine the ethnic and religious composition of the population that is, the ratio of the population which belongs to different tribes and religions.
8. It is used to determine the population density (number of people per unit area of land). This is used as a basis for demarcating districts   for effective   service   delivery   and constituencies     for political purposes.
9. It helps to determine the population structure and composition in terms of age and level of education of the people. The age structure indicates the number of defendants in the country.
10. It is used to determine the occupation composition of the population. This is important for proper manpower planning.

Terms used in population economics

(a)   Demography.  This is the study of the population   structure   and its composition   in terms of age, sex, education levels etc.

(b)   Population explosion. This refers to the rapid increase in the population   of a given area relative to the available resources.    Population   explosion leads to over population   in the long run.

(c)   Migration.  This refers to the movement   of people from one area (region)   to another   in a given time.

(d)  Immigration.  This refers to the movement   of people which involves   entering   and settling   into the country from another country.

(e)   Emigration.  This refers to the movement   of people which involves moving  out of the country  to settle  in other countries.

Factors which influence migration of people

1. Imbalances in resource distribution   among regions and countries.
2. Differences  in levels of development   between regions and countries.
3. Differences  in incomes and wages between regions.
4. Political instabilities  like wars and change of regimes.
5. Educational requirements    where people   are forced  to  go  to other  countries   (regions)   to  acquire education.
6. Differences  in climatic conditions which  may be favorable  or unfavorable.
7. Diseases which  may  affect  certain  regions  there  by pushing  people  to other  regions

(f)  Birth rate (Crude birth rate).   This refers to the number   of children born alive   in a year per thousand of the population.    It is expressed as a percentage.

(g) Death rate (crude  death rate]. This refers to the number of deaths in a year per thousand   of the population.    It is expressed as a percentage.

(h) Natural population growth rate (NPGR).    This is the difference   between   the number   of live births per thousand   of the population   and the number of deaths per thousand of the population   in a year.

1. It is the difference between the crude birth  rate and the crude  death  rate.

N.P.G.R   = Crude birth  rate (CBR)  –  Crude  death  rate (C.D.R) 

Example 1

In a certain  country,   the  birth  rate  is 35 per  thousand   and  the  death  rate  is  15 per  thousand   of the population.    Calculate the natural  population   growth  rate.

Solution

(i)    Artificial population growth rate. This is population   growth rate resulting   from net international migration   that is the difference between immigration   and emigration.

Actual population  growth rate = C.B.R –  C.D.R+ net international migration

Determinants   of population   growth rate

1. Birth rates
2. Death rates
3. Immigration
4. Emigration

(j)   Dependence burden.  This  is  a  situation   where   there  is  a  big  proportion    of  the  non-working population   depending   on a smaller  proportion   of working  population

(k)  Dependence   ratio. This refers  to  the  ratio   of  the  non-working    population    to  the   working population.

Young dependents   = people below 18 years;    Old dependents   = people above 65 years

Active  group  (working  group)  = 18- 65 years

(m) Fertility   rate. This  is the  average  number  of  live  children  born  per  a  fertile  woman.  (For Uganda’s case it is six children per woman)

The structure of Uganda’s population

The population structure of Uganda is described basing on the following features

1. Age structure.  This is categorized under three age groups that are the young dependants (Below 18years), the working age group (18 – 65 years) and the Old dependants (above 65 years).

(a)  The age groups are represented in a triangular form as follows;

(b)      The age groups can also be represented in form of a pyramid  as follows;

The age structure reflects a high proportion of young dependants followed by a relatively big proportion of the active group and a small old age group. The high proportion of the non- working population compared to the small proportion of the total working population reflects a high dependence burden

2. Sex structure. In Uganda, the number of women exceeds the number of men by 2002 census results.  Females are limited in participating economically towards development.   This is due to social-cultural limitations and the high degree of female absenteeism at places of work due to maternity leaves and their need for domestic work,
3. Citizenship structure. In Uganda, we have the foreigners forming a small proportion compared to the large proportion of the local people.   The non-citizens are the major investors because they have capital to invest in large scale projects as compared to the local people.
4. Size and Population growth rate structure.  Uganda’s population size was about 24 .6 million people as per 2002 population census.  The growth rate is between 2-3.6%.  This is mainly attributed to the high birth rates in the country.                                                        . .
5. Occupation distribution. More than 80% of the population is employed in agriculture and other primary production activities with very few in manufacturing and tertiary sectors. The number of people  in paid  employment  (white  cellar jobs)  is  very  small  as  compared  to  the  whole population.
6. Regional (Geographical) distribution. In Uganda,   the urban   areas   are densely   populated    as compared   to rural areas.   This is due to the desirable economic and social conditions   existing   in towns.   But in general, Uganda has a big percentage   of the population   in the rural areas than in urban   areas.     In  addition,   the  central   region   is  densely   populated   because   of  the  productive economic  activities,  security  and other  social  attractions.
7. Religion structure. Uganda’s   population   is characterized   by many religions   due to freedom   of worship,   but it   is dominated   by Catholics   and Protestants.     This has a political   influence   in resource and job allocations.          .
8. Quality structure in terms of skills, literacy levels and health conditions. Many Ugandans   are illiterate but the number is reducing because   of mass education   (UPE and USE).   In addition, the  population   is characterized   by  more  unskilled   than  the  skilled  labour  and  more  un healthy than the healthy  people.

Implications   (Consequences)   of Uganda’s population   structure

Negative implications of Uganda’s population structure

1. The population structure depicts a high dependence burden due to a small working population as compared   to the young   and old dependants.    This retards   capital   accumulation    hence   low investments
2. The high population growth rate result into budgetary deficits.  This   is due   to increased government   expenditure   not  only  on  social  and  economic   infrastructure    but  also  on  consumer goods  like food stuffs.
3. Existence of high levels of unemployment and underemployment in the economy.  This is because the rate at which the population   is growing exceeds the growth of the economy.
4. It leads to balance of payment problems. This  is  due  to  increase   in  importation   of  consumer goods  to cater  for the rapidly  growing  population.
5. The structure reflects inefficiency and low productivity of labour. This is due to low levels of education   and poor health   conditions.   This leads to low levels of resource   exploitation    hence retarded economic growth and development.
6. It leads to inflationary tendencies in the economy.  This is due to high demand   for consumer goods and services as compared to the capacity to supply them.
7. It leads to over utilization of natural resources and public   utilities.  This   is due   to high population pressure on land, forests, aquatics etc.  This leads to environmental   degradation.
8. It  accelerates rural  urban migration  with  its  associated   problems   like  urban  unemployment, development   of slums,  increased  crime  rate etc. This  is because  the majority  of the poor  who  stay in rural areas  end up moving  to urban  areas  in search  for green pastures.
9. This structure reflects low per capita income and low standard of living. This is due to high and increasing population   size as compared   to almost a low and stable national income.
10. Low levels of economic growth and development: This  is due  to dominance   of  females   in the population   structure  yet they are generally  weak  and therefore   they cannot  manage  physical  work which  demands  physical  labour.
11. It leads to “brain drain”.  This  is  because   the  educated   and  highly   skilled   labour  leave   the country  in search  for “greener  pastures”   in foreign  countries  due to high  levels  of unemployment and under  employment   in the country.

Positive implications of Uganda’s population structure

2. Increase in the market size.  The   high   population    size   increases    the   market   size   for   the domestically   produced   goods.   This promotes   the establishment   of import substitution   industries thereby creating more employment   opportunities.
3. It stimulates rapid economic growth. The high population  growth rate stimulates   rapid economic growth as a result of increase   in labour   supply.   This leads to low costs of production    hence increase in output.                                                                                                                                   
4. The small section of foreigners with enough capital encourages capital-inflow in the economy. Such capital is used to set up investments  which are used to generate government   tax revenue.
5. The big population size is easily mobilized in war times to protect  the country   from external invasion.
6. The big population size puts pressure on the government to provide social facilities. This helps to improve  on the welfare  of the people.
7. It encourages geographical mobility of labour. This  is because  the  young  people  available   for work  are willing  to work-anywhere   in the country  and to accept  new  assignments   which  they may be given at any time.
8. It increases government revenue. The government   is able to get much tax revenue   in case the big percentage of the population   is productive.
9. The high population growth rate increases the labour force in the country. This leads  to increase in output, provided labour has other co -operant factors like capital.

 Increasing, decreasing and ageing   population

Increasing population

This  is the population   which  is characterized   by high  population   growth  rates  due  to high  birth  rates as compared  to the low death  rates.   The increasing population may result into population   explosion

Declining (decreasing) population

This refers to the population   characterized   by a continuous   population   growth fall.   It is common   in developed   countries where the birth rate is very low for example   European   countries,   USA, Japan etc.

Negative effects (implications)   of a declining population

1. It leads to a fall in aggregate demand for goods and services in the economy.  This reduces   the level of investments   in the economy hence unemployment    in the long run.
2. It reduces the government tax revenue derived from taxes imposed on incomes of the people.
3. It reduces labour supply. This makes  it difficult  to expand  production   in the economy  and  enjoy economies  of large  scale  due to labour  scarcity  and high wages  paid.
4. It reduces competition among the workers. This leads to inefficiency  in production.
5. It discourages geographical labour mobility. This is because workers are not on pressure  to look for employment   in other areas.

Positive effects (implications)   of a declining population

1. It reduces pressure on land and other natural resources.  This   minimizes    the diminishing returns associated with land and environmental   degradation.
2. It strengthens   the ability   of the government   to provide its people with most of the essential services.  This is so because the government   is not over strained.
3. It reduces the dependence burden on the working group. This improves   the standards of living and capital accumulation   in the economy.
4. It helps the country to attain the required optimum level of resource allocation.  This is true in case the economy is over populated.
5. It reduces on the problem of unemployment   in the economy.  This is because   labour   supply reduces as the population   declines and therefore   the remaining   labour force is in position   to get employment.
6. It encourages savings due to reduced dependence burdens. This helps   to break   the vicious circle of poverty as a result of increased investments   and incomes.
7. 7. It encourages proper planning in the economy.  The government   is in position   to match   the population   of the   country with the available resources.
8. It reduces congestion and rural urban migration. This   helps   to control   open   urban   unemployment   in the economy.
9. It reduces on the social and political unrests in the country.
10. It helps to check on inflationary tendencies and shortage of goods and services in the economy. This is because of reduced  aggregate  demand  due to a declining  population.

Ageing population

This refers to the population   characterized   by a big proportion   of people in the old age group, that is people above 65 years.

The Ageing population   is due to,

1. A fall in birth rate due to improved medical  services.
2. Improved nutrition and balanced diet.
3. Improvement   in technology.
4. Low death rates.

Negative effects of an ageing population

1. It increases occupational and geographical labour immobility. This  is because  old  people  find it hard  to adapt  to new changes  and they  are reluctant  to move  to new places.
2. It reduces the labour force of the economy.  There   is a threat   on   the   future   manpower requirements    necessary   to  run  the  economy   due  to  the  limited  number   of  young  people   in the population.
3. High levels of conservatism. This is because   old people find it difficult to learn new skills  and techniques   of production.
4. It increases the dependence burden on  the active  group  and the  government   in general   in form of feeding,  health  care, clothing,  shelter  etc.
5. It increases government expenditures in terms of pensions and other retirement   benefits   to the old people.
6. There is loss of efficiency and retardation in technological development. This is because   old people are not very innovative   like the young people.
7. It leads to a reduction in per capita income. This is due to the limited contribution    of the  old people  to GNP  hence  low standard  of living.                    .
8. It leads to structural  unemployment   due  to  the  change  in  demand   in  favor  of  production    of goods  and services  for the old.

Under population, optimum population and overpopulation

Under population

This  refers  to the population   size where  the increase  in labour  force  leads to an increase  in output  per capita  given  the available  resources  and capital  stock.

Negative effects of under population

1. It leads to underutilization of resources in the economy. The economic potential  of the country is not properly tapped since some resources remain idle.
2. It discourages specialization and division of labour. There is a tendency of people to engage in subsistence production by producing a variety of traditional crops. This hinders economic growth and development.
3. It discourages both local and foreign investors. This is due to the limited market size resulting from the small population.
4. It leads to low per capita income. This leads to low standard of living of the people.
5. It increases the unit costs of providing social services by the government. The expenditure on social capital per head is relatively high and not cost effective.   It is not worthy to build roads, dams, schools, and hospitals for a small population.
6. Under population hinders economic growth and development. This is due to lack of competition and initiative in the production process.
7. It leads to shortage of labour force. This forces the country to rely on foreign man power which is expensive.
8. It makes it difficult to trade and exchange goods and services between regions. This is due to high transport costs as a result of the sparsely distributed population.

Optimum population

Optimum population refers to the size of the population which provides the labour force that yields the highest possible output per capita given the available natural resources and capital stock.

Or

Optimum population is the ideal population size which provide labour force which 1s sufficient to to combine with existing co-operant factors leading to maximum output per worker/per capita  income is highest.

A country which experiences optimum population is one in which the existing technical knowledge, capital equipment and other natural resources are all used to yield the maximum possible output.

Over population

This refers to the population size where there are more people than resources can sustain resulting in fall in average output as the population grows.

Or

it the population size where output per person falls as the population increases.

Advantages   of over population

1. It increases the size of the domestic market for both the manufactured and agricultural products.
2. Encourages investment
3. It stimulates rapid economic growth. This is due to the expansion of investments as a result of increase in market size.  .
4. It increases labour supply and mobility in the country. This increases output hence economic
5. Encourages hard work to sustain the population.
6. Encourages innovation and invention
7. The big population puts pressure on the government  to provide social services so as to meet the basic needs of people.

Disadvantages of over population

1. It leads to low standards of living. This is due to high cost of living and low per capita income.
2. It leads to over straining of the available social amenities like water supply, medical services, electricity, roads etc.
3. It leads to food shortage in the economy.  This results in famine and malnutrition hence poor health conditions.
4. It leads to excessive demand for goods and services in the economy hence demand pull inflation.
5. It leads to balance of payment problems.  This is due to increased importation of commodities in the country.
6. It encourages rural urban migration with its associated problems. This is because people leave the rural areas to come and enjoy the better services in urban areas.
7. It increases the levels of unemployment and under employment in the economy as a result of excess population.
8. It leads to over exploitation of natural resources hence environmental degradation in form of pollution.
9. It reduces government tax revenue in case the majority of the people are poor.
10. It encourages political instabilities  in  form  of civil  wars  due  to  the  excessive   pressure   on  the government   for social
11. It increases dependence burdens in the economy. This discourages savings and investments due to high consumption   expenditure.
12. Leads to brain drain
13. Limited domestic market due to low income

 The theory of demographic transition

This   theory   explains   population    growth   from   a historical    perspective    for developed    countries. According  to  this  theory,  population   growth  in developed   countries   has  passed  through   three  main stages  that is the stagnant  phase,  rapid  population   growth  rate phase  and the stable population   growth rate phase.

 The theory is explained in three stages as follows

Stage  I  (The  stationary population   growth phase).This   stage   is  characterized    by  high  birth   and death  rates  which  are almost  equal  (balanced).    Therefore the rate of population   growth is very low.

• The high  death  rates  are due  to poor  medical  facilities,  poor  living  conditions,   malnutrition,    diseases and  poor
• The high  birth  rates  are  due  to  low  levels   of  education,   high  demand   for children,  cultural  values,  early polygamous   marriages

 Stage II (The early transition phase). This is also called the early expanding phase.  The birth rate is still very high. There is a sharp fall (decline) in death rates due to improved technology   and standard of living.   Therefore the rate of population   growth (BR – DR) is very high.  This marks the beginning of demographic transition and most developing countries are still in this phase (stage)

Stage III (The late transition phase).  This is also called the late expanding phase.  It is characterized

by  falling  birth  rates  and  low  but  constant  death  rates.   The  fall  in birth  rates  is  due  to  improved standard   of  living,   family  planning   and  high  female   education   due  to  modernization.       Therefore population   growth rate (BR – DR) is very low.   Developed   countries   like Britain have reached   this stage.

The Malthusian   population theory

This theory was put forward by a British economist in the 18th Century called Reverend Malthus.  He used this theory to explain the relationship   between population   growth and economic development    in form of food supply and other necessities.   He observed  that  since  land  and  other  resources   are fixed, any  effort  to increase  food production   would  be frustrated  by an increasing   number  of people  due  to the law of diminishing  returns.

Rev. Malthus based his theory on the following assumptions.

1. Population growth entirely depends on food supply.
2. Population grows   at a geometric rate doubling every after 30 years; for example 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 …
3. Food supply grows at an arithmetic rate for example 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 …

Therefore,   he noted that whereas   population   grows at a geometric   rate, food supply   grows   at an arithmetic   rate.  Therefore,   at  a given  time  T, the  population    growth   would   outstrip   the  means   of subsistence   (food  supply)  leading  to starvation  and death  hence  the population   trap.

Population   Trap refers   to the inevitable   level of population    at which   population    growth   stops because of shortage of food to support it.

Illustration of the Malthusian Population Trap

After time,  t, population   will  be trapped  and hence  forced  to follow  the food growth  curve.   Malthus suggested  that the only way  to avoid  this condition  was for people  to engage  in moral  restraint  that  is they  should  limit giving  births.

• He proposed  positive   and negative   (preventive)    checks   as a means   of controlling   population growth.
• In some countries, positive  checks  such  as  wars,  diseases,   famine  have  occurred  not  to high population  as suggested  by Malthus.

LIMITATIONS OF MALTHUSIAN POPULATION THEORY

To a greater extent, the Malthusian population theory is of limited relevance or  to developing countries in the following ways:

1. He assumed that resources e.g. land are fixed and therefore food production cannot increase faster than population but ignored that the quality of resources can be improved.
2. He ignored the fact that improvement in technology lead to increase in food production with use of agricultural mechanization and irrigation.
3. The ignored the fact that continuous supply of food can obtained from international trade.
4. He assumed that food is the only determinant of population growth; yet there are other factors such as immigration, levels of education, and cultural beliefs. For instance the modern medicine and public health programs have reduced the death rate and therefore population increase does not show a define relationship with income per capita
5. Foreign aid may not necessarily increase population in LDCs, because not all foreign aids are used in food production
6. Malthus never indicated the time when the population trap would occur which means the theory is in waiting for the reality to occur.
7. Malthus did not realize that rising living standards can cause a fall in birth rates and population growth. The theory assumes that national rates of population growth increase are positively related to the levels of national income. Therefore, as national income increases, population growth rates also increase yet in many countries as national income increases, birth rates have tended to fall.
8. The theory was developed in Britain and has never been experimented in LDCs like Uganda and probably not substantial.
9. The theory did not foresee great improvement in transport that makes it possible to transfer food from areas of plenty to areas of scarcity hence developing countries can offset the problems of food shortages.
10. There is no mathematical relation as regards growth in food and population. There is no proof to show that population increases in a geometric progression and food production increase in an arithmetic progression.
11. It ignored the possibility emigration to ease pressure on resources. People emigrate from countries which are densely populated to countries which are less populated resulting into reduced pressure on resources in the overpopulated countries.
12. Failure of the theory to visualize (foresee) the possibility of labour mobility from areas where opportunities are limited to areas where high wage employment opportunities exist.
13. The theory is based on the subsistence economy yet modern economies of developing countries are not predominantly subsistence any longer. Commercialization of production leads to specialization and increased output for exchange thus averting any possibility of shortages in food supply. This too was not envisaged by the theory.
14. The theory ignored the deliberate and scientific methods of birth control. Malthus did not foresee the possibility of applying modern family planning methods like use of condoms, vasectomy and contraceptive pills to reduce on population increase.
15. Malthus was influenced by the law of diminishing returns which is not always true. At times increasing amount of a variable factor, labour, to a fixed factor, land, results in increasing and constant returns not diminishing returns as the theory assumed.

..

Population problems in developing  countries   (Uganda)

1. There is food shortage to support  the increasing   population.    Countries   are forced   to import foodstuffs or to seek for foreign aid from other countries.
2. Balance of payment problems.  This is as a result of increased   government   expenditure   on food imports and other social requirements for the population.
3. High levels of unemployment and under-employment. The population   growth rate exceeds the rate at which jobs are being created.    This is due to limited job creating investments   as a result of low   savings and capital.
4. Diminishing returns in the agriculture sector due to high population   pressure on land and other natural resources.   This leads to low levels of productivity   and per capita income.
5. Low capital accumulation.  This   is due to high   consumption    expenditures    leaving   little   or nothing for savings and investment.
6. Poor standards of living.  This is due to shortage   of goods   and services   and high   levels   of inflation due to excessive demand for goods and services.
7. Over exploitation of natural resources hence environmental   degradation   and pollution.
8. Rural urban migration leading to congestion,  high crime rates, prostitution,    theft etc.  in urban centers.
9. High dependence burdens.   The increasing   population   makes developing   countries   to depend on other developed countries for foreign aid in form of food and other consumer   goods.
10. High levels of brain drain. The increasing  population   accelerates   brain  drain  as the  young  and highly  educated  individuals   leave  their  countries   in search  of “greener   pastures”    in  developed countries.
11. High levels of illiteracy due to low levels of education and poor health services.    The majority of  the  people   are  poor  and  they   cannot   access   the  expensive   higher   education    due  to  high dependence   burdens.
12. Political instabilities in form of civil wars and struggle for the limited social services.

Possible solutions   to the population   problems in developing countries

The solutions aimed at solving the problems of increasing population   are contained   in the population policy.  Therefore   the population   policy is aimed at attaining   optimum   population   by checking   on population    growth   and increasing   resources    and production    capacity.      Such population    policies include the following;

1. Family planning. This includes   the use of contraceptive   pills, condoms   and other intra-uterine devices.    However, this method has not been effectively   used due to high levels of illiteracy   and fear of side effects.
2. Encouraging higher education. Emphasis   should  be put  on  female  education   so as to check  on the  fertility   rates  and  emphasize   the  quality   of  children   other   than the  quantity.   In addition, education also helps to postpone marriages   for the future.
3. Adopting production policies aimed at increasing  food supply to reduce on food shortages.    This helps to reduce on the diseases associated with malnutrition.
4. Rural development policies aimed at making rural areas attractive so as to check on rural urban migration. Such policies   include   rural electrification,    security,   water   supply   etc.   This   also promotes agricultural production.
5. Disease control measures. Health programs   should be set up to educate   the people   on how to control and reduce on the spread of diseases through primary health care.
6. Legalizing abortion as a way of controlling unwanted pregnancies   and population   growth.
7. Use of coercive policies. These are forced measures imposed on people by the government   aimed at reducing   family sizes.    Such measures   can be in form of legislative   measures,   imposing   taxes on the number of children born in a family, economic disincentives
8. Creating a stable political climate which is conducive   to various   social and economic   activities. This   facilitates    investments    hence   creating   employment    opportunities     and   incomes    for  the population.
9. Setting up institutions by the government  to promote   population    control   for example   family planning clinics, women clubs, teenage clubs etc.
10. Land reform policies aimed at improving on the land tenure system.    This allows prospective investors to carry out meaningful   and large scale food production for the population.
11. Reducing income inequalities by emplacing balanced   regional   development.      This   helps to check on resource misallocation   by the minority rich in form of investing   in luxurious activities.
12. Putting in place policies aimed at discouraging immigration and encouraging emigration. This not only controls  population   growth  but  also  it leads  to income   in flow  in form  of the  incomes earned  by the nationals  employed   abroad.

Revision questions

Section A questions

1  (a) With  the help of an illustration,   briefly  explain  the population   pyramid   for    your  country.

(b) Give three reasons as to why countries carry out population   census

2  (a) Define  the term “population   growth  rate”  in economics

(b) Mention any three determinants   of population   growth rate in your country.

3  (a) Distinguish   between  natural  and artificial  population   growth  rates

(b)  Given  that  crude  death  rate  is  15 persons  per  1000 people  and  the  crude  birth  rate  is 25 babies per  1000 babies  born,  calculate  the natural  population   growth  rate

4   (a) Distinguish   between dependence   ratio and Dependence   burden.

(b) Mention two demerits of a high dependence burden.

5. Mention four negative consequences   of a declining  population

6   (a) Distinguish   between ageing population   and optimum population

(b) Give any two demerits of an ageing population   in an economy

7   (a)  What  is meant  by under  population

(b)  Give three demerits of under population   in an economy.

8  (a)  Define  the term population   explosion,

(b)  Mention the causes of population   explosion.

Section B questions

1   (a) Describe the population   structure of your country

(b) Examine the implications   of such population   structure to your country

2   (a) Distinguish   between under population   and over population

(b) Examine the economic   implications   of an increasing population   in your country.

3. (a) Explain the Malthusian   population   theory.

(b) To what extent is the above theory applicable to your country?

4. (a) Examine  the population   problems  in your country

(b)  Suggest the possible   measures   which can be adopted   to reduce on the population   problems above.

Dr. Bbosa Science            +256 778 633682