Soc 727-the Theory of Demographic Transition and Its Applicability to Developing Countries
THE THEORY OF DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION AND ITS APPLICABILITY TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
(Part One)
A PAPER COMPILED BY
S. AKINMAYỌWA LAWAL
MATRIC NO: 106584
Department of Sociology
University Of Ibadan
Ibadan, Nigeria.
SUBMITTED TO
PROFESSOR UCHE C. ISIUGO-ABANIHE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN
SOC 727: DEMOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
THURSDAY, 8 MAY, 2008.
Abstract Human population over the past decades, have doubled, tripled and grown rapidly, thereby affecting every aspect of man’s existence. The paper examines the Demographic Transition Theory which is used to explain the population movement or process of transition from high birth rates[->0] and high death rates[->1] to low birth rates and low death rates as part of the development process of a given country from a pre-industrial to an industrialized society. The paper shows the various stages of the transition, and its implication on human population. The paper concludes with the applicability of the Demographic Transition Theory in developing countries such as Nigeria.
Introduction
All nations of the Modern Era which have moved from a traditional, agrarian-based economic system to a largely industrial, urbanized base have also moved from a condition of high mortality and fertility to low mortality and fertility. In so doing, they have experienced enormous increases in population along with massive shifts in their relative number of children, adults and aged. (Stolnitz, 1964).
Our interpretation of past population movements and our expectations about future trends rest primarily on a body of observations and explanations known as "demographic transition theory.." The conventional wisdom of this theory has a deep impact and guides the work programs of international organizations, technical assistance decisions by governments, and popular analyses in the media. (Caldwell, 1976).
The demographic transition model began as a classification of
(Part One)
A PAPER COMPILED BY
S. AKINMAYỌWA LAWAL
MATRIC NO: 106584
Department of Sociology
University Of Ibadan
Ibadan, Nigeria.
SUBMITTED TO
PROFESSOR UCHE C. ISIUGO-ABANIHE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN
SOC 727: DEMOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
THURSDAY, 8 MAY, 2008.
Abstract Human population over the past decades, have doubled, tripled and grown rapidly, thereby affecting every aspect of man’s existence. The paper examines the Demographic Transition Theory which is used to explain the population movement or process of transition from high birth rates[->0] and high death rates[->1] to low birth rates and low death rates as part of the development process of a given country from a pre-industrial to an industrialized society. The paper shows the various stages of the transition, and its implication on human population. The paper concludes with the applicability of the Demographic Transition Theory in developing countries such as Nigeria.
Introduction
All nations of the Modern Era which have moved from a traditional, agrarian-based economic system to a largely industrial, urbanized base have also moved from a condition of high mortality and fertility to low mortality and fertility. In so doing, they have experienced enormous increases in population along with massive shifts in their relative number of children, adults and aged. (Stolnitz, 1964).
Our interpretation of past population movements and our expectations about future trends rest primarily on a body of observations and explanations known as "demographic transition theory.." The conventional wisdom of this theory has a deep impact and guides the work programs of international organizations, technical assistance decisions by governments, and popular analyses in the media. (Caldwell, 1976).
The demographic transition model began as a classification of
References: Demeny, P. 1972. “Early Fertility decline in Austria-Hungary. A Lesson in demographic transition” in D.V. Glass and r. Revelle (eds.), Population and Social Change. London. Landry, Adolphe, 1982 [1934], La révolution démographique - Études et essais sur les problèmes de la population, Paris, INED-Presses Universitaires de France. Notestein, Frank W.[->181] 1945 Teitelbaum, M. S. 1975. Relevance of Demographic Transition Theory for Developing Countries.[->182] Science, May 2, 1975;188(4187):420-425. Thompson, Warren S