Question

Developing industrial societies are in this stage of demographic transition. During this stage, societies discover technology and resources encourage growth. Birthrates remain high, and improved living conditions and medical knowledge result in lower death rates.
 Which of Thompson’s stages of Demographic Transition is described in the paragraph above?
Please select the best answer from the choices provided.
a
Balance
b
Growth
c
Leveling
d
Replacement

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is B) Growth

Explanation:

The phenomenon and theory of the demographic transition refers to the historical shift in demographics from high birth rates and high infant death rates in societies with minimal technology, education (especially of women) and economic development, to demographics of low birth rates and low death rates in societies with advanced technology, education and economic development, as well as the stages between these two scenarios. Although this shift has occurred in many industrialized countries, the theory and model are frequently imprecise when applied to individual countries due to specific social, political and economic factors affecting particular populations.

Thomson's second stage  leads to a fall in death rates and an increase in population.

The decline in the death rate is due initially to two factors:

   First, improvements in the food supply brought about by higher yields in agricultural practices and better transportation reduce death due to starvation and lack of water. Agricultural improvements included crop rotation, selective breeding, and seed drill technology.

   Second, significant improvements in public health reduce mortality, particularly in childhood. These are not so many medical breakthroughs (Europe passed through stage two before the advances of the mid-twentieth century, although there was significant medical progress in the nineteenth century, such as the development of vaccination) as they are improvements in water supply, sewerage, food handling, and general personal hygiene following from growing scientific knowledge of the causes of disease and the improved education and social status of mothers.

Answer 2

The correct choice is option B. Growth

The American demographer Warren Thompson observed changes, or transitions, in birth and death rates in industrialized societies over the previous 200 years, as a result of such observations he proposed, in 1929, a theory called Demographic transition (DT). This theory explains the transition from high birth and death rates, in pre-industrial economic systems, to lower birth and death rates in industrialized economic systems.

This demographic transition theory involves four stages. Specifically, the second stage is characterized by a fall in death rates due to improvements in food supply and sanitation, which leads to an increase (or growth) in population as well as in life expectancies.