People and the Planet

Revision – Long answer practice questions

2015

Qu 1) Population Dynamics

Problems of youthful populations• High cost of schools / nurseries –

high cost of child benefits and medical care

• High youthful dependent population – Few people working and paying taxes needed for services (schools etc) for the young.

• Future rapid population growth – as the young people grow up there will be an increased demand for resources and services. E.g. housing

Impacts of an ageing population (Japan)• Social:

• Younger people need to care for ageing relative – This takes up time

• Demand to increase immigration – This can lead to tensions

• Economic• Lack of economically active (people

working) who pay taxes – This leads to difficulty paying for care homes / medical care / pensions for the elderly – Could increase taxes

Pro-natalist Policies (To increase birth rates). E.g. Sweden • Increase child benefits• Free nursery care• Increase maternity benefits (pay / length of time off)Anti-natalist Policies (To reduce birth rates).• Government policies. E.g. 1 Child Policy – China• Reduce child benefits• Education and free contraception. E.g. IndiaMigration Policies (Control the number and type of migrants entering the country). E.g. UK• Quotas – to limit the number of migrants• Skills tests and overseas recruitment – to attract certain workers

Qu 2) Resources

• Pessimistic Malthus view Vs more optimistic Boserup.• Malthus believed population would outstrip food supply, whereas Boserup

believed food production could keep pace with population.• Malthus believed exponential population growth would outstrip the steady

(arithmetic) food production increase, leading to a crisis (famine or war) followed by checks (positive and preventative) and population reduction.

• Boserup believed ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ . Population growth would spur new ways of farming – e.g. fertilizers, use of machines (combine harvesters). These would increase productivity and enable food production to keep up with population growth.

• Boserup believed that people would develop new technology to enable the supply of resources to keep up with population (e.g. new deep sea mining techniques have increased the amount of oil we are able to extract or Genetically Modified (GM) crops e.g. drought resistant crops

• Malthus’s theory is much older (industrial revolution), is it still relevant today?

• Renewable resources will not run our in the future. E.g. Hydroelectric power• Using renewable resources will mean that we do not use up non-renewable resources

(e.g. coal, oil and gas) as quickly• Renewable energy is much cleaner and better for the environment. E.g. Wind power

does not release any greenhouse gases (CO2)

Industrial stage: • Primary employment falls.• The secondary employment rises then falls (although it ends higher than it started e.g. 30% at the start of the

industrial stage and 35% at the end)• The tertiary employment rises to become the highest percentage of employment (50%)These happen because: • Many people in less developed countries live in rural areas; this means many are employed in primary industries like

fishing and farming to provide themselves with food. Often the technology and FDI is not available to build factories (that is why they have low numbers in secondary employment).

• As LEDC’s develop (into NIC’s) they start to use more machines. This means there are less jobs available in primary industries (mechanisation). These people migrate to cities in search of work in factories, therefore secondary industries increase.

• MEDC’s are wealthy; therefore the people demand a high standard of living and lots of services (high tertiary employment). It is also cheaper to import raw materials and food, so the number of people employed in primary jobs is low.

Qu 3) Globalisation

• Transport technology has vastly improved and because of this the cost has reduced, especially due to container ships. This has made it easier and cheaper to produce goods in places like China and export them to countries like the UK and USA.

• TNCs have also led to increases in international trade. This is because have supply chains which include many countries around the world (e.g. Apple produces many goods in China and then sells them in developed countries like the UK and USA). The larger TNCs will also often merge and buy out companies in other countries to increase their trade (e.g. Sony bought Ericsson in order to increase its sales of mobile phones).

• The internet has also made it very easy for companies to reach customers and increase trade in any location around the world.

• State led investment: Countries like China have set up Free Trade Zones (FTZ). These offer incentives to TNCs such as reduced taxes, few regulations on health and safety and banning unions.

Positives• Jobs – Increased incomes in developing countries

e.g. manufacturing in China (Nike), services in India (BT); focus on employment for women.

• Rising incomes bring increased living standards and quality of life. Also leads to MULTIPLIER EFFECT and benefits others

• Globalisation results in TNCs developing infrastructure, which benefits all in the area

Negatives• Exploitation - Low wages, long hours, lack of

unions in developing world factories; relatively short working lives as younger women favoured; child labour is common.

• Job losses in the developed world especially males in traditional manufacturing (e.g. NE England).

• Pollution and other environmental issues in the developing world.

• Globalisation has bypassed some groups e.g. sub-Saharan Africa.

Using examples, compare the working conditions of people in the developed and

developing world. (6 marks)……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

• Subsistence farmers in Ethiopia work very long hours and the work is manual and very hard; they get no pay as such.

• Many get trapped in the ‘cycle of poverty’. They are unable to afford to send children to school or pay for farm machinery. They can not increase yields to sell at market. Therefore working conditions remain very hard and pay remains very low (if any)

• This compares with factory work in China where people get a low weekly wage, but also work long hours though the work is not hard manual labour.

• Working conditions in factories (sweat shops) can be very poor. Trade unions are often banned (e.g. in FTZs) so it is difficult to improve conditions of long hours, low pay and worker abuse.

• In the developed world e.g. the NHS in the UK working hours are limited by law and wages are much higher (as well as legal minimal wages); there are also benefits like pensions and sick leave which workers in China and Ethiopia do not have.

• Pay and conditions are much better in the developed world, although there are issues with work related stress and mobile technology meaning people work / are in contact with work places for longer hours

Qu 4) Development Dilemmas

Top Down Project: Narmada River Scheme - India• Positive impacts:

• Jobs: Created in construction and running of the dam. These will increase incomes in the area and create the multiplier effect.

• Local farmers will benefit from irrigation for their crops

• Local people will no longer suffer from flooding• Local people will benefit from improved water

supplies and electricity (from the HEP).

• Negative impacts:• People moved from their homes (234 villages

flooded to create the reservoir)• Farmers will have to pay for fertilisers as the

river no longer floods (expensive and causes pollution)

• Different groups of people: Those in urban environments (electricity, water supply). Large companies might be seen as benefiting from construction contracts. Governments may be viewed as seeing large projects as beneficial to the economy in general. Environmentalists will oppose large projects.

Bottom Up Project: Biogas, Rural India• Small scale and cheap to install in villages• Technology is simple and easy to use (for people

with low levels of literacy)• Uses appropriate technology

• Easy to use and maintain and often built from local materials so easy to source repairs.

• Biogas uses plant material to create gas. This is easily found in rural farming areas

• Local people are involved in decision making• Biogas has improved peoples lives (less time

collecting wood) and health (cleaner than open fires)

However …• Although can improve the lives of people in a

small area often has little impact on the national development

• Relies on charities and funding can fluctuate from year to year

Explain the barriers to further development in Uganda.(6 marks)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

• Uganda is landlocked so has no access to ports, this means it has to rely on other countries to export its goods which is expensive.

• Uganda has a very youthful population with 55% of people under 18; this means there are very large numbers who need to get jobs to prevent unemployment.

• Uganda relies on one or two exports like coffee, and changes in coffee prices could reduce Uganda’s income leaving it with less money to invest.

• Many people in Uganda live in rural, isolated communities. Farming is often subsistence and people become trapped in the ‘cycle of poverty’.

• Uganda receives little FDI from TNCs. This is due to poor infrastructure (many rural areas in Uganda are isolated), poor education (many families cannot afford to send children to school. This means the workforce is less educated), HIV/AIDS is an issue in many rural communities, especially where literacy and education levels are low.

Qu 5) Changing economy of the UK

Industrial structure - North East and South East Regions• NE

• Most employment is in manufacturing (secondary industries)

• De-industrialisation led to high levels of unemployment

• Reliant on public sector jobs (tertiary) although due to the recession the govt have cut many of these jobs

• Some call centres (Orange) have located here due to the low wages in the region - tertiary

• SE

• Has become a centre for quaternary industries: Due to educated / skilled workforce. The M4 corridor (near London, Heathrow, motorway). This has created a centre for research due to its favourable location and skilled workers.

• Large number of banking and finance jobs (tertiary) in London due to the skilled workforce and links with Europe and the rest of the world.

Brownfield Site – Fort Dunlop, BirminghamBrownfield costs• Expensive to develop, e.g. costs of demolishing

existing buildings, cleaning up contaminated land. Sites are often difficult shapes and access may be poor (inner city). Planning/zoning/listed building restrictions on what can be done.

Brownfield benefits• Seen as a greener alternative/form of recycling.

Possibility of grants or other financial incentives available may reduce overall costs.

Fort Dunlop created jobs in an area affected by de-industrialisation. It also created green space and improved the environmentGreenfield costs• The cost of developing new infrastructure/utilities.

Potentially controversial and NIMBY attitudes against developing sites. Urban sprawl destroys habitats.

Greenfield benefits• Land is often cheap to develop as site does not

have to be cleared first, may be more accessible, e.g. on city edge. Sites have fewer restrictions in terms of size and shape so any form of development is possible. Healthier environment

Using examples, explain the positive and negative impacts of more flexible working such as teleworking, self-employment and part-time work.(6 marks)

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• Telecommuting reduces commuting and therefore saves fuel and creates less pollution.• Teleworking / working from home means that companies do not have to rent expensive offices

helping them cut expenditure.• Part-time and/or flexible work does suit some people, like young parents and older people

especially in call centres and shops. It means they are often able to balance child care with work.• People can choose when and where to work, fitting their work in with other

commitments.• Companies also have more control over employees working hours (making it easier to cut them

in times of recession).• More part time workers can mean less unemployment• Being self-employed or ‘freelance’ brings with it the extra stress of looking for work all the time.

They may not receive the same job security or benefits (sick pay, maternity, paid holidays or pension contributions) as people working for a large TNC.

• There could be family tensions if homes are also workplaces for parents.• Part-time work pays less, so some people can struggle to get enough income to pay for living

costs and their children.

Qu 7) The challenges of an urban world

Developed World – New York, Developing World – Rio de Janeiro

New York: • Food: meeting the needs of a large number of wealthy consumers in developed cities.

Most food is imported – pollution (food miles) also issues of too much food being wasted. • Energy: the huge demands placed on developed cities for electrical power (air

conditioning, appliances)• Transport: Large volume of vehicles (high car ownership) leading to congestion and

gridlock – air pollution and health problems, although some developed cities might have good metro and rail systems.

• Waste disposal: Large amounts go to landfill sites which are becoming fullRio de Janeiro:• Slum housing: in developing cities, this is a huge problem, e.g. Rochina, as there is not

enough formal housing to meet demand. There are health and sanitation problems.• Informal economy: Low / unreliable incomes: Lack of tax income to invest in

improvements• Urban pollution: Development has led to increased wealth and car ownership – air

pollution / health issuesSome overlap of problems: i.e. both types of city face the same challenges – examples might be waste disposal, water supply or traffic congestion.

London:• Reducing transport pollution with the introduction

of the Congestion Charge which has had some success at reducing traffic volumes

• London’s Low Emission Zone which bans the most polluting vehicles from the city in order to improve air quality

• Attempts to increase cycling with a network of cycle routes and ‘Boris bikes’.

• Underground systems could also be considered e.g. extensions such as the Jubilee line or even Crossrailto encourage more people to use public transport

• The introduction of cleaner vehicles such as buses and infrastructure for electric cars e.g. charging points

• Masdar City (UAE) – Planned from scratch to be as low pollution as possible, but which are costly to implement. It has renewable energy and electric cars to reduce pollution

Developing World:Self-help Schemes. E.g. Rocinha Slum, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil• Rocinha is a slum with a population of 100,000. Self-help schemes

provided residents with bricks and cement and residents worked to make the improvements to homes themselves. Often working as a community. Many improvements have been made, progress has been slow due to the size and unplanned nature of Rocinha though.

NGOs. E.g. CORP and NGO in Mumbai, India• Community Out Reach Programme (CORP) works in slums in

Mumbai to educate street children and help them learn skills and trades. It has helped many children and adults improve their quality of life although funding can vary from year to year.

Urban Planning. E.g. Curitiba, Brazil• Cheap, reliable and green transport is provided by the city. There is

also a ‘green exchange’ which gives free food and bus tickets to poor families in exchange for waste recycling. It is a very successful scheme but would be difficult to adapt to a larger city like Mumbai.

Transport: E.g. Mexico City, Mexico• The government has introduced a scheme to limit people’s car

use. They can only drive in the city on certain days depending on their number plate. It has reduced pollution … however many wealthy people have just bought a second car and because the city is still growing so too is car ownership.

• Mexico City has invested in improving buses and public transport. This has helped to cut congestion and pollution in the city.