Your question: The theory of _____ _____ is based on the idea that industrial development causes social and economic progress that affects population growth rates.
Your answer: The theory of demographic transition is based on the idea that industrial development causes social and economic progress that affects population growth rates.
The answer to fill up the blank is demographic transition.
Though the effect of ships disappearing over the horizon <em>is </em>due to its spherical shape, it could also be used evidence for objects falling off the "edge" of a flat, planar-shaped earth.