The Demographic Transition, Research Paper Example

The demographic transition is a model that particularly describes population trend and how it changes over a period of time. American demographer Warren Thompson first described demographic transition in 1929 based on observed changes in birth and death rates. The trend is usually described as a picture of a country or countries and is not specifically geared towards one region or area unless particularly specified in research. A typical demographic transition model would look as such:

http://www.marathon.uwc.edu/geography/Demotrans/demtran.htmhttp://www.marathon.uwc.edu/geography/Demotrans/demtran.htm

The trend has occurred in the States, Europe, Asia and throughout Canada. “Stage One is associated with birth and death rates with particular reference to population growth.” (Montgomery, 1999). “Stage Two sees a rise in population caused by a decline in the death rate while the birth rate remains high, or perhaps even rises slightly. The decline in the death rate in Europe began in the late 18th.C. in northwestern Europe and spread over the next 100 years to the south end east. Data from Sweden clearly show this stage (and two other stages following it)”: (Montgomery, 1999).

There are influences that transition the trends which include:

1. Food brought in by the revolution during the eighteenth century.
2. Early marriage in England brought in greater wealth thus improving the birth rate.
3. Improvements in water, sewerage and food handling produced higher yield of crops.
4. Still killer infectious diseases put a damper on life longevity.

“The model does not give ample prediction of how long it takes to get from one stage to another but it does accurately predict the anticipated triggers for the future.” (Rosenberg, 1999).

Smaller and healthier educated families improve political stability. (“How  Demographic   Transition Reduces Countries’ Vulnerability to Civil Conflict”)

References

Montgomery, K. (1999) The Demographic Transition Retrieved January 30, 2010 from, http://www.marathon.uwc.edu/geography/Demotrans/demtran.htm

Rosenberg, M. (1999) Demographic Transition Retrieved January 30, 2010 from, http://geography.about.com/od/culturalgeography/a/demotransition.htm

How Demographic Transition Reduces Countries Vulnerability to Civil Conflict Retrieved January 30, 2010 from, http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.populationaction.org/Publications/Fact_Sheets/FS23/asset_upload_file751_5036.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.populationaction.org/Publications/Fact_Sheets/FS23/Summary.shtml&usg=__zn6g7qBmTwEE3gCkOfx5VFs2cx4=&h=297&w=400&sz=35&hl=en&start=8&sig2=2_d6NxWLF0m4-TmfR3y58w&um=1&tbnid=gVs04_pWOOd2CM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddemographic%2Btransition%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUK303%26sa%3DX%26um%3D1&ei=en5kS721MuPe8AagluTFAw