Contrasting Contemporary Population Issues Geofile 521

Contrasting Contemporary Population Issues – Three Case Studies

P r o b le m s

China •

In the 1970’s it was predicted that the current growth rates would have resulted in mass starvation

Geofile no. 521 April 2006

India •

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Massive base population (1.1 billion) and growth rate that only fell below 2% since the year 2000 Set to overtake China as most populous country

Italy • • • •

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Second lowest birth rates in Europe Ageing population (40% over 60, 15% under 20) Naturally decreasing population Female emancipation stunted by marriage in a male dominated Catholic culture State resources being stretched (pensions paid from current tax receipts)

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P ol ic ie s

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One Child Policy introduced 1979

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Which stipulated ages at which people can marry – later marriage (men 28 women 25) Applications required for right o start family Salary bonus for those who limit family to one Financial penalties for those who have more than one child Priority given to housing those with one child. Higher retirement benefits for those parents who limit themselves to one child

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National family planning programme in place since 1952

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Reproductive and Child Health programme 1997

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National Population Policy (2000)

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Commitment to education and choice in regards to contraception Mass media used to communicate

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Encouraging private pension provision Part time employment for women Raise retirement age Relax rules on immigration Amnesties for unauthorized immigrants

Contrasting Contemporary Population Issues – Three Case Studies

R e s ul t s

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Decline in fertility which will result in natural decrease Population will start to fall once it peaks at around 1.5 billion Fall in maternal and infant mortality Increase in average life expectancy Has the authoritarian policy led to abuses of human rights? Suggestions of female infanticide Gender imbalance in favour of males Aging demographic structure “little emperor” syndrome

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Vast differences in contraception use between different regions S & W regions display lower mortality, lower fertility and higher contraception use. Kerala (communist state governance) shows high literacy rates and female empowerment Rise in the number of terminations and female srerilistion Suggestions of use of terminations to choose sex

Geofile no. 521 April 2006

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Italy experiencing net immigration from LEDC’s (North Africa and eastern Europe)

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Immigrants restricted to low-paid, low-status jobs in agriculture, domestic service and black economy Immigration seen as a burden Xenophobia

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The International Conference on Population and Development The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was convened under the auspices of the United Nations and was organized by a secretariat composed of the Population Division of the UN Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis and UNFPA. It was the largest intergovernmental conference on population and development ever held, with 11,000 registered participants, from governments, UN specialized agencies and organizations, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and the media. More than 180 states took part in negotiations to finalize a Programme of Action in the area of population and development for the next 20 years. It was the first international conference that did not specifically address women's issues and interests but at which they were nevertheless the main focus of attention. The Programme of Action, adopted by acclamation on 13 September 1994, endorsed a new strategy that emphasizes the integral linkages between population and development and focuses on meeting the needs of individual women and men, rather than on achieving demographic targets. Population is an integral part of sustained economic growth and sustainable development. It underscored the interrelated and the positive reciprocity among efforts to slow population growth, reduce poverty, achieve economic progress, improve environmental protection, and reduce unsustainable consumption and production patterns. Principle 6 of the Programme of Action notes that the "interrelationships between population, resources, the environment and development should be fully recognized, properly managed and brought into harmonious, dynamic balance." It calls on States to

Contrasting Contemporary Population Issues – Three Case Studies

Geofile no. 521 April 2006

"reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and promote appropriate policies, including population-related policies, in order to meet the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."