Perils of Overpopulation Quiz

Overpopulation

• Overpopulation occurs when the human population exceeds the ecological environment's carrying capacity, leading to a shortage of essential materials such as transport, water, shelter, food, and social amenities.

Consequences of Overpopulation

• Environmental Degradation: depletion of resources, ecosystem destruction, and pollution.
• Rising Unemployment: high number of workers competing for limited job vacancies, leading to high joblessness rates.
• Rising Living Costs: fewer resources, limited water, and lack of money, resulting in increased living costs.

Critique of Neo-Malthusian Theory

• Betsy Hartman argues that governments use population control as a substitute for addressing social justice and reform issues such as:
  • Land distribution
  • Employment creation
  • Provision of mass education and healthcare
  • Emancipation

Urbanization and Economic Growth

• Population shift from rural to urban areas, resulting in megacities with:
  • Income disparities
  • Transportation, housing, air pollution, and waste management problems
• These megacities also serve as centers of economic growth and activity.