Explain possible reasons for the differences between the
population data for Pakistan (infant mortality, total rate of
fertility, life expectancy, and natural increase rate) and the same
data for Spain. By looking at the GDP per capita for both
countries, we can conclude that Spain is more economically
developed than Pakistan. Being economically developed provides more
and diverse job opportunities and access to good healthcare and
contraception. This increases the female literacy rate and life
expectancy and decreases the infant mortality and total fertility
rate. Pakistan is economically under- developed, so job
opportunities, good healthcare, and contraception are not available
to all its citizens. This decreases the female literacy rate and
life expectancy and increases the infant mortality and total
fertility rate. Pakistani women try to counteract the high infant
mortality rate by having more children, so the total fertility rate
is higher than Spains. On its own, Spains high GDP per capita would
allow families to support more children. However, because Spain
also has a high female literacy rate, the total fertility rate
drops. So, Spain has a lower infant mortality, total fertility, and
natural increase rate, and a higher life expectancy and female
literacy rate than Pakistan.
Slide 4
Population data table with predictions
Slide 5
Choose any two of the nations shown in the table and suggest
public policies that would affect the data you predicted, giving
reasons for your suggestions. One public policy that would affect
Australias population data is the conversion to Islam. If all
Australians converted, then women would not be able to work outside
of the home, potentially dropping the female literacy rate and GDP
per capita. The changes mentioned above would create a domino
effect, resulting in an increased total fertility, natural
increase, and infant mortality rate. The life expectancy might drop
as well. Since the country is economically developed and the
competition for jobs decreases with the lack of women working,
Australias population data wouldnt look exactly like Pakistans, but
more like Indonesias or Kazakhstans (both of which are
predominantly Muslim). If Spain set up public policies that
financially reward large families, then more than likely Spains
natural increase and total fertility rate would increase. Female
literacy could possibly drop along with the GDP per capita since
women would be getting money for just having children. The gender
empowerment would be nonexistent and the possibility of most women
(if not all) dropping out of the workforce would be high.