World in the Balance

The Population Paradox

India

1. What has allowed the southern states of India to reach a lower fertility?

2. In the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, what is being done to try to lower fertility?

3. One woman interviewed said she wanted no more children and begged to be sterilized. Why did this not happen?

4. Why is the son preference so strong?

5. What is the child mortality rate in Uttar Pradesh and what effect does it have on family size?

6. What are the problems caused by the fact that 95% of marriages are arranged?

7. A different solution has been employed by wealthy families. What is it?

8. Women can see that having a large family contributes to poverty. Why don’t they avoid it? How can this problem be addressed?

9. Some people feel that an economic change will save India from the population problem. What is it?

Japan

10. What is the irony of the low fertility rate in Japan?

11. What is the major difference demonstrated in the relationship between men and women when it comes to fertility?

12. How has having a career affected fertility in Japan?

13. Many Japanese women say they MUST work and that both parents work long hours to support a family. What lesson can we learn from this?

14. What is the unique population problem Japan will face by 2050?

15. What social problem will this cause?

16. What possible solution, that has worked in the US, has Japan refused to accept?

17. What environmental problem accompanies immigration to industrialized countries?

18. What is the current irony regarding fertility in industrialized countries?

Sub-Saharan Africa

19. What is the problem facing sub-Saharan Africa even if it can solve the fertility problem immediately?

20. What are the consequences for increased population in most of Africa?

21. What has Kenya been able to achieve?

22. What unique problem is Kenya now facing?

23. Describe the cycle that exists between poverty and HIV.

24. What role has the US played in making the problem worse?

25. Half of girls have a child before the age of 19. How can this be solved?

26. The real problems of population growth are shortages of food, energy and water and the effect on other species. What can we do to try to help?