Part Two, Issue 4

Population Growth and Migration

Objectives

After reading the assigned chapter and reviewing the materials presented the students will be able to understand:•How much does immigration contribute to the population growth of the United States?•How migration is related to the concept of sustainability.

Introduction: Population Growth

• The United States 2006 growth rate of 0.9 percent will result in the population doubling to nearly 600 million in about 88 years.

• For population to increase, there must be more births than deaths, and/or grater immigration than emigration.

• The crude birth rate (CBR) is the number of births per 1000 people.

• Globally, CBR’s range from 8 to 9 in developed countries to 50 in developing countries.

Migration and Population Growth• Many experts estimate net immigration (legal and illegal immigration

minus emigration) to be between 1 and 2 million a year.• Emigration is less than 200, 000 annually.• In 1997 the National Research Council attempted to quantify the impact

of immigration in the U.S.:• If immigration continues at present levels, it will account for 2/3 of U.S.

population growth to 2050.• Immigrants are more poorly educated than residents, thus imposing

significant costs on localities.• Immigrants lower wages among less skilled residents.• Immigration is a contributing factor in the widening gap between the rich

and the poor in the United States.• Immigration imposes considerable cost on U.S. society.

Summary• The United States 2006 growth rate of 0.9 percent will result in the

population doubling to nearly 600 million in about 88 years.• The crude birth rate (CBR) is the number of births per 1000 people.• In 1997 the National Research Council attempted to quantify the impact

of immigration in the U.S.: If immigration continues at present levels, it will account for 2/3 of U.S. population growth to 2050. Immigrants are more poorly educated than residents, thus imposing significant costs on localities. Immigrants lower wages among less skilled residents. Immigration is a contributing factor in the widening gap between the rich and the poor in the United States. Immigration imposes considerable cost on U.S. society.

Home Work

• 1. What is crude birth rate (CBR)?• 2. What is the impact of immigration on U.S.

society?