Answer to Question 1
b
Answer to Question 2
Demographic transition is the process by which some societies have moved from high
birth and death rates to relatively low birth and death rates as a result of technological
development. The demographic transition takes place in four stages of economic
development: Stage 1: Preindustrial societieslittle population growth occurs because
high birth rates are offset by high death rates. Food shortages, poor sanitation, and lack
of adequate medical care contribute to high rates of infant and child mortality. Stage 2:
Early industrializationsi gnificant population occurs because birth rates are relatively
high whereas death rates decline. Improvements in health, sanitation, and nutrition
reduce infant mortality rates. Overpopulation is likely to occur because death declines
while births remain high. Stage 3: Advanced industrialization and urbanizationvery
little population growth occurs because both birth rates and death rates are low. The
birth rate declines as couples control their fertility through contraceptives and become
less likely to adhere to religious directives against their use. Children are not viewed as
an economic asset they consume income rather than produce it. Societies in this stage
attain zero population growth, but the actual number of births per year may still rise due
to an increased number of women of childbearing age. Stage 4: Postindustrializati on
birth rates continue to decline as more women gain full-time employment and the cost
of raising children continues to increase. The population grows very slowly, if at all,
because the decrease in birth rates is coupled with a stable death rate. Critics argue
that this model applies best to the process of development in Western countries.