IB Geography HL Revision Guide

Summary:

The IB Geography HL Revision Guide discusses changing populations, their distribution, and associated challenges and opportunities. The discussion begins by addressing population patterns in the context of economic development, considering factors such as population density, distribution, and internal migration. It further explains the concept of core-periphery patterns and introduces the idea of megacities, exploring their growth and consequences.

The text delves into examples of uneven population distribution in countries like China, South Africa, and Germany, highlighting factors contributing to their unique population patterns. It then delves into demographic concepts such as natural increase, fertility rate, life expectancy, dependency ratio, and the demographic transition model (DTM), providing insights into population changes.

The challenges and opportunities associated with changing populations are discussed comprehensively. Aging populations and their impacts on economies are outlined, including challenges such as a declining workforce and potential solutions like raising the retirement age or incentivizing childbirth. Case studies of countries like Japan and Russia illustrate these issues.

Forced migration and internal displacement are explored encompassing conflict, development projects, and natural disasters. The text provides examples of countries affected by forced migration, such as Syria, Nigeria, and Germany, underscoring the complex social and economic consequences.

Gender inequality and its connection to economic growth are addressed, with a case study of Kerala, India, highlighting the complexities of gender dynamics even in progressive settings. The demographic dividend is explained as an increase in the working-age population and its potential benefits for economic growth, using Africa and South Korea as case studies.

Excerpt:

IB Geography HL Revision Guide

1 – Changing Population

1.1 Population and economic development patterns

• Population density: number of people in a given area
• Population distribution: the pattern of where people live
• Voluntary internal migration: the movement of the population away from their home, from one part of a country to another. It occurs when people are free to move where they choose.
• Core-periphery: a more developed part (core) of a country or the world, and a less-developed part (periphery) of a country or the world
• Megacity: a city with more than 10 million inhabitants