The stable work of US agriculture is fundamental to the country’s food security. Farmers produce products necessary for the survival of millions of citizens. However, crops’ harvest and condition depend on numerous environmental factors. For this reason, it is vital to preserve the balance in nature and avoid radical changes in factors affecting farming. Unfortunately, a severe food security problem has recently been observed as the honeybee population continues to decline. Considering this insect’s critical role in nature and farming, further deterioration of the situation might become challenging for US farmers.
The major problem arising from the declining honeybee population is the reduced pollination effectiveness. It is a fundamental ecosystem function critical for plant reproduction and the agricultural sector (Rhodes, 2018). Research shows that around 88% of flowering plants globally and three-quarters of food crops depend on the effectiveness of pollination (Rhodes, 2018). The process implies the transfer of pollen from a male flower to a female one, which creates the basis for fertilization and contributes to the emergence of fruits or seeds (Rhodes, 2018). The bigger part of plants is pollinated by insects, meaning they are a critical part of the cycle, and the substantial reduction in their quantity might precondition undesired outcomes.
In the US agricultural sector, honeybees are the most important pollinators. The relevant statistics show that more than 100 crops in the state rely on this insect (Grossman, 2013). The analysis of farming in the country shows that the added revenue to crop production because of the pollinators’ activity is about $18 billion (Nowierski, 2021). At the same time, according to official reports, more than 700 North American bee species can become extinct in the closest future (Bedada, 2020). The number of honeybee colonies has reduced from 5 million in the 1940s to only 2,6 million nowadays (Bedada, 2020). It threatens the whole agricultural sector and food security in the state. Additionally, the decline in the honeybee population impacts farmers and their activities.
The change in the population of honeybees popularized the practice of renting beehives. Recent statistics show that farmers in the US rent about two million honey beehives annually from official beekeepers (Kleinman & Suryanarayanan, 2020). It helps to support the desired level of pollination and guarantees the necessary level of harvest (Kleinman & Suryanarayanan, 2020). The increased yield and crop quality linked to this activity are valued at around $15 billion, evidencing honeybees’ importance (Kleinman & Suryanarayanan, 2020). However, the beekeepers report the mass extinction of these insects. It increases the rental prices per bee colony and makes farming more expensive, increasing food costs (Bedada, 2020). It also means renting honeybees might become less effective, and new solutions will be required to address and resolve the problem.
Statistics evidence the topicality of the problem and the necessity to resolve it. More than 130 farms in the USA growing apples, cherries, almonds, and watermelon report that crops demonstrate lowered yields because of the smaller bee populations (Bedada, 2020). They also report more problematic access to beekeepers (Bedada, 2020). It becomes a serious challenge to the whole agricultural sector. The extensive use of agricultural chemicals, mono-cropping, and intensive farming practices are considered central factors affecting the honeybee population (Rhodes, 2018). For this reason, today, farmers are concerned about reducing pesticide use as one of the possible ways to save these insects and restore their sufficient quantity (Rhodes, 2018). It is expected to slow the pace of insect extinction and help restore their populations.
Moreover, the US agricultural sector responds to the honeybee decline by introducing new pollinator health-related projects. For instance, the honeybee hive monitoring system is tested to control these insects’ population and provide the necessary changes in employed practices to avoid mass extinction (Nowierski, 2021). The major stakeholders’ collaboration is another response to the problem of ineffective pollination. Beekeepers, farmers, and scientists cooperate to determine the best practices to restore balance and avoid critical losses (Kleinman & Suryanarayanan, 2020). Planting diverse crops and restoring natural habitats are effective measures to address the problem.
Altogether, statistics show that the US agricultural sector faces a severe problem because of the honeybee population decline. The mass extinction is linked to changes in environmental factors, the use of pesticides and chemicals, and intensive farming. These factors impact the natural balance and reduce the effectiveness of pollination. The effects of bees’ death are already visible as farmers report decreased yields, increased spending for growing crops, and guaranteeing that the required amount of food will be produced. For this reason, there is an attempt to reduce the usage of pesticides, align collaboration with the major stakeholders, and avoid unwise farming practices. However, the problem remains topical, meaning that there is a need for radical and effective measures to save the agricultural sector.
Qatar’s population has more than doubled in the last ten years. According to Qatar’s ministry of the municipality and urban planning, the population is expected to be over 3 million people by 2026. The growth is largely attributed to western immigration as a result of the region’s economic growth. This is evident from the fact that Qatar’s native population numbers only 200,000 (Hyslop 12). By 2030, analysts expect the population to start decreasing again or grow very slowly. This is from the assumption that most projects in the region will be complete and investors might start migrating to other new markets. As economies mature, population growth rates in the corresponding regions tend to moderate.
A big population of immigrants is involved in building Qatar’s infrastructure and different housing projects. When these projects are done, they are all bound to return home or relocate to different markets. A big presence of immigrants is a result of the fact that locals are not well trained for the job opportunities coming up. The country still lacks trained professionals in industries coming up and has to rely on foreign labor. As time goes by, more locals are being trained in different professions and they will start taking over jobs held by immigrants.
The energy industry has also attracted a big number of immigrants. Almost half of the foreign human resources are involved in building the region’s energy infrastructure. The state has incredible energy potential and is seen as being likely to outperform other oil producers in the region. As a result, it is investing heavily in gas facilities which have attracted a lot of foreign attention and investors. Being a young market in the oil industry, many foreign investors have had to bring their own professionals and personnel. Its young energy industry thus contributes much to the population growth.
Birth rate
The birth rate in Qatar had remained almost constant from 1998 to 2004 after which it has been growing even though it has been at a very slow pace. Since 2004, the state has been experiencing higher birth rates than the world average. In Doha for example, there are over 16,000 births each year, a very high number compared to its population size (Ali and Hassan 10). The international standards would give 11,000 as a normal number for a population like that of Doha. The increment is attributed to an increase in the state’s population and an increased number of people using the infertility clinics’ services.
The decline in population, a big concern for many developing nations is not a concern for Qatar. Compared to other developing countries in Europe and Arab nations, the state is experiencing an above-average birth rate. This trend is also attributed to improved women hospitals and maternity services reducing the number of child or mother mortality during birth. Prenatal and postnatal care services which have not been a priority in the country are taking a big part of the budget today. As a result, there are minimized death rates of mothers during birth and infants.
According to Dr. Al Rifai, chairman of obstetricians association in Qatar, the country is enjoying a very positive reputation on an international level, making it very easy for the state to hire the best medical professions from all over the world (United Nations Dept. of Economics and Social Affairs 35). The country has recently invested heavily in hiring the best obstetricians and pediatricians in the world, as well as training their own doctors by offering to fund medical students. The state has also been funding a lot of research projects on newborn babies to identify metabolic diseases (Pulsipher and Alex 40). Circumcision for newborns which has been done at home traditionally is now offered in hospitals and conducted by senior physicians. Baby clinics offer services such as screening for vision, cardiac disease and jaundice, all of which are required by the department of health regulations.
Recently, Qatar Red Crescent, a national health organization got into an agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide them with $ 520,000 worth of medical equipment to help expectant mothers and infants have better health (Winckler 112). The country is said to have received in excess of $1.5 million in donations from other organizations so far to improve their mother and child healthcare. Such initiatives have considerably reduced the mortality rates among infants and expectant mothers. Infertility rates have also reduced as the country sets up more clinics to address people who may be facing challenges trying to conceive. All these efforts put together have left the country growing at a faster rate than it did ten years ago in terms of population.
Death rate
The death rate in a country does impact the population growth rate. The overall death rate in Qatar has reduced by half since 2003. Today, the country has a death rate of 2.44 deaths/ 1,000 population per year compared to 4.43 deaths in 2003 (Nafi 412). This has been attributed to improved health care in the country and information availability over health matters. It is also a result of an improved economy, allowing people to access better health services, eat well and live more comfortably. The rates seem to be a bit high in poor neighborhoods as the nation is still working on spreading the benefits of a good economy to all the regions of the country.
Infant mortality rate has also reduced, now standing at 12.24 births for every 1,000 births (Qatar Information Exchange 3). This is a tremendous improvement from 2003 where the number stood at 21 infant deaths for every 1,000 born. The infant mortality rate for male children seems to be higher than that of girls. 13 boys die for every 1,000 born while that number stands at 11 for girls. The reduced number of infant mortality is attributed to improved prenatal and postnatal health care. Education levels and exposure among women have improved, making it easier for them to take care of their children in an informed way.
Healthcare and reproductive health
According to the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, DC, the quality of healthcare in Qatar is much better than that of the USA and other countries in western Europe (2). The same report reveals that it was recently ranked at the top of the per capita health expenditure in the gulf region. Its efforts have gone far in reducing the crude death rates. In 2005, their ministry of health was replaced by the National Health Authority which is responsible for their public health institutions. The state has health centers set all over along highways to ensure easy access to medical care. Their healthcare is available to everyone including tourists and expatriates and is of excellent standards. Making healthcare available has reduced mortality rates and as a result, the population continues to grow.
Qatar has put a lot of effort into developing its preventive medical care and the fight against contagious diseases. The country became the first to add influenza on their list of vaccines given to babies, making their list of vaccines the most comprehensive (Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, DC 2). There are centers set in different regions to fight non-communicable diseases such as accidents, nutrition and addictions. Their response systems ensure that minimum time is taken to respond to accidents and other medical catastrophes to minimize fatalities. As a result, its citizens and visitors experience one of the best medical care services in the world and death rates are minimized.
Reproductive health has been made better by opening infertility clinics to help couples who may be having a hard time conceiving as a result of medical conditions. Improved response to expectant mothers when they are ready to deliver and access to hospitals all ensure that the risk they are exposed to at such times is minimized. Medical services for locals have very subsidized costs and are almost free in many public hospitals. Their biggest general hospital is the Hamad General Hospital which is equipped with modern technology and professionals to extend the best medical care to the people of Qatar. It is no wonder the country has very minimized death rates, especially those resulting from easily treatable diseases.
Standards of living
Qatar’s standards of living have substantially improved in the last ten years. The state has posted a surplus in its budget for eight consecutive years starting 2000 to 2008 (International Chambers of Commerce 34). Oil and gas account for half of Qatar’s budget as the industry continues to enjoy favorable investments from both locals and foreigners. It is now the second on the list of countries with the highest per-capita income. As a result of this, the country today has a high standard of living while its citizens enjoy all amenities that people in modern states do.
Improved standards of living, availability of job opportunities and good salaries have given the people of Qatar access to the best medical care. It has made it possible for them to afford good foods and take care of their nutritional needs. Since more people are able to take care of their basic needs, levels of depression and other psychological conditions are minimized (Zuhair 30). Qatar has fitness centers with the most modern equipment, mainly put in place to cater to tourists and foreign professionals working in the region. Locals have therefore benefited from them too and have learned the importance of physical fitness. Certain illnesses can then be avoided and the number of years the locals are living in is increased.
Data from: Qatar Information Exchange.
Conclusion
From the graph above, it is clear that Qatar has had a positive population growth rate since 1960 to date. The population has more than doubled from the year 2000. Several factors have contributed to this rapid growth. The country now enjoys a healthy economy which allows its population good standards of living. They are able to access good medical care in well-developed public and private hospitals. Qatar’s healthcare system is considered among the best in the world. It is easily accessible to all and well developed to take care of the population. The small population makes it easy for the state to take care of its people in terms of health. Hospitals are located along highways, making them easily accessible. It is also notable that the country has invested much in preventive healthcare minimizing the number of medical conditions in the state. All these factors reduce mortality rates and prolong the number of years that old people live to.
Reproductive health is a priority to the government of Qatar. The infant mortality rate has been on the decrease for the last ten years. The number of deaths during birth has also been reduced due to good medical developments. Fertility clinics assist people who may experience challenges when trying to conceive all of which adds up to positive population growth.
Immigrants are perhaps the biggest contributor to Qatar’s population growth. Immigrants make up for more than half the state’s population today. With time, a big number of them are expected to return to their home or relocate when Qatar’s economy reaches the maturity stage. Locals who are now embracing education will be able to serve as professionals in different institutions and take over immigrants’ jobs. At this point, the population growth is expected to slow down.
As the population grows, so do birth rates increase. Even after the immigrants are gone, the growth is expected to slow down but it is not expected to stop. It is therefore expected that Qatar’s population upward trend will continue. The country seems to have enough opportunities for its people and therefore, such fast population growth is not a challenge for the state right now.
Works cited
Ali, Mohannadi and Hassan Ibrahim. Sustainable Social Development Indicators in The State of Qatar: Status and Prospects. The State of Qatar: The Permanent Population Committee, 2008. Print.
Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, DC. Health care in Qatar, 2009. Web.
Hyslop, Leah. “Qatar population booms as the economy grows.” The Telegraph. Web.
International Chambers of Commerce. Middle East Review: The Economic and Business Report. London: Kogan Page, 2003. Print.
Nafi, Zuhair. Economic and Social Development in Qatar. London: Pinter Publishers, 2008. Print.
Pulsipher, Lydia and Alex Pulsipher. World Regional Geography: Global Patterns, Local Lives. New York: W.H. Freeman, 2008. Print.
Qatar Information Exchange. Population Growth Rate, 2010. Web.
United Nations Dept. of Economics and Social Affairs. World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision. New York: United Nations, 2010. Print.
Winckler, Onn. Population Growth, Migration and Socio-Demographic Policies in Qatar. Tel Aviv: Tel Aviv University Press, 2000. Print.
Zuhair, Nalsi. Population and Social Development in Qatar. New York: Routledge Publishers, 2009. Print.
Pollination is an essential aspect of plant production that depends on insects, birds, and water. Out of the 250000 various species of plants, 89% are angiosperm, and 90% of them rely on insect pollination (Wink, 2020). The European honeybee (Apis mellifera) accounts for one-third of all insect-pollinated plants and crops. European honeybee, therefore, is very significant to human food supply and economic production. However, Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has caused the European honeybee to decline since the 1980s consistently. CCD occurs when most worker bees in a colony disappear that are essential to the provision of food from pollen and honey production. An inordinate decline in the European honeybee population will influence negative effects on food production and economic performance.
Discussion
I would like to collaborate with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) to identify the cause of the decline in the European honeybee population. CGIAR has adequate research experience and capacity to conduct an extensive investigation of the research problem. I would create the International Institute for Melittology Research (IIMR), whose mission would be to appreciate and improve the ecosystem and ambiance of bees to augment pollination and agricultural productivity.
The project will be completed in four phases, three months each, to solve the research problem successfully. First, the study will aspire to establish the definite and expected rate of decline in the European honeybee population over the years. Next is the relationship between CCD and the honeybee population. Thirdly, I will identify and compare the severity of CCD and the other factors affecting the honeybee population to highlight the threat.
Conclusion
Finally, use the trial method to determine the best management practices that can be implemented to eliminate the threat to the honeybee population. In the scenario that the European honeybee becomes extinct, wind, water, and bats can be adopted as alternative pollinators.
The study of national macroeconomic trends is of particular importance for the effective management of a country, as it makes it possible to detect potentially hidden patterns. For this purpose, the study of dependencies between variables is often used to identify causes and effects affecting the well-being of the population as a whole. In this paper, a pair of such variables is the U.S. population and the absolute value of the annual gross domestic product. While population size quantifies precisely how many people are registered in the U.S. for a given year, GDP shows the monetary equivalent of all goods and services produced in the country for the year passed (The World Bank, 2022; Macrotrends, 2022). The relationship between the two variables could be interesting: potentially, an increase in population could also increase GDP as more consumers and producers are born in the country. This is the central hypothesis of this analysis: an increase in the U.S. population leads to an increase in annual GDP. The report presents a statistical study of this relationship and elaborates on the stated hypothesis.
Statistical Analysis
Figure 1 shows the scatterplot for the dependence of annual GDP on population size. It is easy to see that the data form a shape similar to the right branch of an open upward parabolic function. It follows that it can be assumed that population growth leads to an increase in annual GDP squared. It is essential to distinguish between a quadratic and an exponential function: the exponential shows a much more rapid rate of growth than the quadratic (Logan, 2022). In this case, the relationship between the variables might look like GDP = (Population)2, which would correspond precisely to the quadratic function, but not the exponential GDP = ePopulation. In other words, this relationship shows neither a logarithmic nor an exponential form of the relationship between the variables.
Figure 1. Scatter plot for a pair of variables.
For a pair of variables, it is possible to perform a regression analysis, one of the parameters of which is the coefficient of determination. This coefficient, or R2 for short, determines the degree of reliability of the constructed model for the variance of the data; in other words, the closer the value of R2 is to 1, the better the fit between the model and the data set. As seen in Figure 2, the coefficient of determination, in this case, is 0.997, which means that the quadratic model explains up to 99.7% of the variance in the dataset. This is an extremely high level of fit, justifying the choice of a polynomial model for a pair of variables. Figure 2 also reports information about the regression equation for the relationship: this equals GDP = 7∙10-13[Population]2-0.0002[Population]+17.361: the right branch of the parabola is shown in the figure.
Figure 2. Regression curve showing the equation for the data set.
The resulting equation can be used to forecast GDP in a particular year: the reliability of such a forecast would be exceptionally high for values within the 1960 to 2021 period for which the data were collected. For example, with a population of 200 million people reached between 1969 and 1970, the projected GDP is $5.361 billion, and with a population of 300 million, it is $20.361 trillion. Since these numbers are within the range of the data, the probability of them matching the actual values is extremely high. The accuracy of subsequent years decreases but can still be quite reliable given the R2 level and the tendency for polynomial growth. Hence, for example, when the U.S. population is 350 million, GDP will tentatively be $33.111 trillion, and when the population is 400 million, GDP could be $49.361 trillion. In reality, the actual numbers will probably be different from these values, but a good regression model can give indicative levels.
Conclusion
To summarize, it should be emphasized that a statistical study of dependencies for real data can provide valuable information about the causal relationships between them. The current paper showed that the size of the annual GDP for the United States had been quadratically related to population size over the past six decades. Determination coefficient and regression equation values were obtained for this data set. The equation is used to produce predictive estimates that were highly accurate due to the numbers falling within the population range and the high R2 level. Taken together, this suggests that an increase in population leads to a quadratic increase in annual GDP in the United States.
As per current projections, the population of Senegal is projected to increase for the remainder of the century. With a population of 17,084,661 by 2021 (illustrated in figure 1), Worldometer (2021) equates this number to 0.21% of the total global community (Alobo & Bignebat, 2017). With the current regional population, Senegal ranks 72nd when compared to the other countries across the globe (Sendra Fernandez, 2020). Notably, Senegal comprises multiethnic inhabitants distributed throughout the country. Specifically, Whereas Wolof makes about 37.1% of the population, the other groups consist of Pulsar 26.2%, Serer 17%, Mandinka 5.6%, Jola 4.5%, and Soninke 1.4%, the remaining 8.3% comprising of the individuals of Lebanese and European descent (Durrani & Crossouard, 2020). Although every tribe has its unique language, French is the official language used by the people within the jurisdiction. Notably, analysts expect the country’s population to increase before the end of this century.
Figure 1: Demographics of Senegal
Senegal has a population density of 87 square kilometers, equating to 225 persons per square meter. Roughly 42% of the population of Senegal lives in the rural area. The population size of rural communities varies from approximately 77 per km2 in the West-central to 7.2 per km2 mostly in Arid East (Sinatti, 2019). The country’s population density is 68 persons per square km (Newman, 2019). Senegal is a country in West Africa located on the westernmost part of the continent. Senegal is known as the ‘Africa Gateway’ and is served by multiple air and sea routes. This African country has a multicultural area endowed with animals and plant life (Alobo & Bignebat, 2017). It is located on a biodiversity border with the quasi grassland, the beachfront, and tropical rainforests. The nation’s cultural heritage was chosen from this beautiful biological heritage: the baobab plant and the lion.
With the argument that over 17 million are distributed all over the country, Dakar is a city with the largest population (2,476,400), followed by Pikine (874,062), then Touba (529,176). Also, Thies (320,000) and Thies Nones (252,320) are the other towns with the significant number of people residing therein (Lavenex et al., 2016). In this country, the natural increase rate was 27.94 people per thousand people by 2020; this represents a 1.48% decrease from 28,36 people per thousand populations last year (Newman, 2019). With the country’s population’s 2.25% growth rates, the current population will double after twenty-nine years should the conditions remain unchanged. Based on its growth rate, Senegal ranks 33rd when compared to the world’s countries (Durrani & Crossouard, 2020). The life expectancy of Senegal is 68.87 years, with each gender having different rates. For instance, whereas the females have a life expectancy of 70.9 years, males recorded about 66.6 years.
Figure 2: Senegal’s urban and rural populations
As per the World Bank’s collection of development index compiled from officially-recognized sources, the age-dependence ratio (percent of the working population) was 84.97 percent in 2019. Senegal – Dependency ratio of age (percentage of working-age population) – the World Bank in March 2021 provided accurate figures, historical figures, and projections. The balance of dependence is between people under 15 years of age and the working-age population under 64 years of age, between 15-64 years. The data show the fraction of employees per 100 population of the working period (Lavenex et al., 2016). The literacy rate for adults is the number of people aged 15 years and over who can both study and write a short, factual comment about their daily lives. A Senegalese worker generally earns approximately 350,000 XOF every month. According to Sendra Fernandez (2020), the pay ranges from the lowest overall of 88,600 XOF to 1,560,000 XOF. His record is the monthly wage, including housing, transportation, and other benefits.
In determining salary, the level of experience is the most significant factor. Overall, employees with two or five years’ expertise typically earn 32 percent more in all sectors and fields than newcomers and juniors. Professionals with more than five years’ experience generally make an average of 36% than those with five years or less (Durrani & Crossouard, 2020). When people reach the 10-year mark, wages increase by 21 percent for those who have passed the 15-year mark (Sendra Fernandez, 2020). Unfortunately, reports indicate that high malfeasance with improper justice, extremely slow governmental formality, and a failing educational system are among the most significant barriers to the nation’s economic development. Based on the demographic transition model, Senegal records a reduced fertility rate.
Senegalese’s pattern matches the trend in certain northern African nations more closely, though not precisely, in the first stage of their fertility decreases. Although we cannot know Senegal’s population, a comparison between Senegal and another country in its demographic shift may reveal what is ahead (Newman, 2019). As Senegal seems to be more like the changes in northern Africa than the differences in sub-Saharan Africa, it can also be usefully compared with an Africa north as its emerging fertility changes are similar.
Although Senegalese during the previous centuries upheld the pro-natalist types of population policy, the new governments recommend an anti-natalist approach. Also known to us as “natalism,” are countries that encourage reproductive activity. Countries promoting naturalism are like Germany. Natalism methods, usually implemented by governments, promote and glorify parenthood by encouraging them to pay the first year of their life. They also try to reduce abortions and to make it easier to have a child and occur collectively. Because old societies believe women are both unable to work and parents, the administration attempts to foster this contrasting belief. On the other hand, anti-natalism, which restricts the country’s population, is the antithesis of birtherism (Sinatti, 2019). Compared to other policies, their methods of anti-natalism are regarded as very stringent. Many LEDCs have this kind of policy to balance their addiction ratios.
Lack of enough resources to facilitate the well-being and sustainable existence of Senegal people is vital. Senegal is recognized as a source of migration, as in many sub-Saharan African countries. In 2013, 1881603 internal immigrants, comparable to 14.6 percent of the total population, came from Senegal, 13 million with the number of people in this country was 586870 in 2015 (Maarel, 2019). The forecasted proportion of Senegal’s urban population is projected to rise from 44% by 2015 to 55% by 2040, above average in sub-Saharan Africa (Lavenex et al., 2016). The rural population migrates to cities and larger agglomerations, predominantly rural young people, because of low productivity and poor rural areas’ salaries. Significantly, Figure 2 gives an illustration of the rural-urban migration in Senegal between 1955 and 2020.
Senegal has an advantage over Sub-Saharan Africa, with nearly half its populace. The urban population in Senegal has almost doubled in recent decades from 23 percent during 1960 to 43 percent in 2013, with the prediction that it could reach 60 percent by 2030 (Sendra Fernandez, 2020). This growth presents enormous challenges, but it also offers Senegalese politicians the opportunity to change the Senegalese economic growth architecturally. 65% of the West African country’s gross domestic product of west African country is manufactured in urban areas and 50% in Dakar itself (Fredericks, 2018). Thus, most city areas, such as Dakar, the Senegalese capital, have driven urban development.
Specific push and pull factors determine migration among Senegalese, hence the need to evaluate them. Whereas pull factors are those in the new destination that attract people or groups to leave home, push elements to propel people willingly. The migrants are often forced to do so because they could be at risk if they do not relocate. For instance, poor education quality is one-factor motivating Senegalese scholars to relocate to other countries. Photocopiers provide more items than databases can, with findings, it is not unusual to fight for scant publications at Ethiopian universities (Lavenex et al., 2016). Web laboratories and cafes, private products that come forth like mushrooms, and pronunciation redemption for accomplished scientists do not bridge the knowledge gap.
Advancing industrialization in the urban centers contributed to the rural-urban migration. By 2020, the urban population was 48.1% indicating that the urbanization rate is 3.73% annually (Maarel, 2019). For instance, Dakar recorded about 3.140 million people. According to statistical survey data in two rural communities of Kaolackas well as Matam, 8.9 percent of people would-be migrants, and one-third of families have had at least one migrant (Alobo & Bignebat, 2017). The concept of migration flows in Matam is more significant than in Kaolack. Social mobility pervades in both regions (Sinatti, 2019). Recurring dry spell, for example, reduces cropped soils and adversely impacts rural Senegal’s food security, leading to the increased rural-urban migration flows. Still, for economic reasons, it forms part of complex interactions between the various migration-led factors.
The formal policy on immigration in Senegal still needs to be adopted. While the management of immigration is not a primary concern for public bodies, much consideration has been devoted to emigration policies. In the past few years, Senegal has proposed multiple initiatives, particularly in security, migration, advancement, and initiatives on returning and resettlement of Senegalese new arrivals (Alobo & Bignebat, 2017). Furthermore, close collaboration in the sector of border control has been coordinated with EU Members. Unlawful immigration fatalities from Europe to Africa and vice versa show a harsh reality. Nevertheless, it is almost unknown how the justifications are formed for potentially illegal immigrants.
Senegal has passed laws and signed contracts with European nations to prevent “highly secretive” emigration. The defenders of rights argue that these attempts have led to an increasing number of Senegalese migration captives (Newman, 2019). For example, as per the state’s information, the Senegalese Committee for Human Rights (SHRC) indicates that perhaps the West African nation has not operated a dedicated immigration detention facility (Maarel, 2019). SHRC has informed the GDP that during the pandemic, a network of NGOs has initiated an initiative to protect refugees, genuine refugees, and other displaced persons. Thus, Figure 3 gives an overview of the growing Senegalese population between 2000 and 2010.
Figure 3: Senegal’s migration patter in 2000, 2005, and 2010
References
Alobo, S., & Bignebat, C. (2017). Patterns and determinants of household income diversification in rural Senegal and Kenya. Journal of Poverty Alleviation and International Development, 8(1), 93-126.
Durrani, N., & Crossouard, B. (2020). National identities and the external other in Muslim majority contexts: Youth narratives in Pakistan and Senegal. Social Identities, 26(3), 314-329.
Fredericks, R. (2018). Garbage citizenship: Vital infrastructures of labor in Dakar, Senegal. Duke University Press.
Global Forum on Migration and Development. (2012). MTM i-Map Migration and Development Layer SENEGAL [PDF] (p. 13). Web.
Lavenex, S., Jurje, F., Givens, T. E., & Buchanan, R. (2016). Regional migration governance. The Oxford handbook of comparative regionalism, 457-485.
Maarel, S. (2019). Governing migration through a process of compromising. A study of multilayered migration governance and partnership between the EU and Senegal (Publication No. 6530818). [Master’s thesis, Utrecht University]. Institutional Repository at the Utrecht University.
Newman, A. (2019). The influence of migration on the educational aspirations of young men in northern Senegal: Implications for policy. International Journal of Educational Development, 65, 216-226.
Sendra Fernandez, E. (2020). Toolkit 5: Senegal on the screen. SOAS Research Online. Web.
Sinatti, G. (2019). Return migration, entrepreneurship and development: Contrasting the economic growth perspective of Senegal’s diaspora policy through a migrant-centred approach. African Studies, 78(4), 609-623.
Worldometer. (2021). Real time world statistics. Web.
The United States government conducts its population census after every ten years. The exercise is conducted by the United States Census Bureau which makes use of enumerators in data collection. The data collected from the census deal with issues that relate to respondents’ race and ethnicity. From the era of civil war, such data has been used to appreciate the ethnic and racial diversity of the Americans rather than being used to instigate racial prejudice. The essay will look into the background information on the United States Censuses.
Racial reorganization and the United States Census 1850-1930: Mulattoes, Half-Breeds, Mixed Parentage, Hindus, and the Mexican Race.
The period between the civil war and World War II characterized an era of pronounced racial inclinations. Well-known races expanded and contracted. The census orchestrated the demarcation of social boundaries between different classes of people and the general population became obsessed with who and who belonged to which group. Racism became rife. The white race did not of course relinquish their position at the top of the social ladder but the question that people kept asking was who in particular occupied the topmost position in the social ladder (Hochschild, Jennifer and Brenna Marea Powell 1).
Blacks and the Chinese struggled for the lowest position in the social hierarchy with elevation greatly dependent on how the power brokers defined the group. Assimilation of Mexican Americans, South Asians and Pacific-rim Asians depended on whether their classification allowed them to be potential insiders or perennial non-Americans. Levels of governance were deeply engrossed in the racial reorganization issue wholesomely (2).
At the time of the 1902 US census, social and political order was greatly influenced by one’s racial inclination. The census impetus for racial classification was unrivaled as it touched exclusively on racial nitty gritty (3). Different groups of people were adequately illuminated: the mixture between blacks and other races, racial classification of Asians by nationality, classification of Latin Americans as whites, mulatto or as being racially distinct and finally whites were distinguished using their countries of birth, whether they had mixed parentage or their mother tongue. One episode of racializing religion was witnessed when south Asian immigrants were pooled as Hindoos (3).
Native Americans were given a wide berth as they were notably ignored by the census and classified as being black but with white blood. In the 1930 census, the racial reorganization was discarded and the American census bureau only recognized the white, the Negro, the Indians and five Asian nationalities. Racial mixtures, mixed parentage, the Hispanics, the Hindoos were given blackout. In 1940, the use of the word ‘colored’ in conjunction with the word race was totally disbanded (Hochschild, Jennifer and Brenna Marea Powell 4). The era of World War II was ushered in with an already established racial order and racial reorganization.
Scholars have continued to ask themselves why the United States government census bureau exhibited inconsistency and instability in the way they undertook to do their racial categorization. Moreover, other questions have been raised concerning why the bureau chose to undertake the reorganization of the racial order. The reasons as to why population censuses were loaded with ethno-racial order, and why they had racial inclinations, have always been raised from different quarters. Horschild et al (4) narrowing on the American perspective, posit that there was a hot contest between the Congress and bureaucracy over political control orchestrated by elected and appointed politicians.
These people had a passion for scientific integrity. Moreover, these individuals harbored diverse ideological beliefs on racial matters. Such beliefs had soft spot for the elevation of the status of the white race while subordinating the position of the nonwhites. Actual and potential Americans could be distinguished. The same applied to the people who were classified by the census bureau as perennial outsiders. However, confusion did arise about whoever nonwhites and perennial outsiders were. Hoschild et al (4) attempted to explain why the census at this point of time was so obsessed with creating racial order by saying that politics of population change infiltrated the bureau’s internal actions.
US Census Bureau. Questions and Answers for Census 2000 Data on Race
The 1990 US census allowed the respondents to register more than one race because they were many children who were born out of unions between people of mixed races. This was intended to help the government in knowing the diversity of cultures in the United States (US Census Bureau 1). The 2000 population census in America presented 63 racial categories. These are composed of Americans who originated from Africa, the white race; Alaska locals; Indians of American descent; Asians; residents of the pacific island; Hawaiians and the; additional races and a mixture of the above-named groups (1).
The data products could not reflect all the racial categories captured in the census therefore data was only shown for the six categories outlined. The category of two or more races was created in response to the possibility that a respondent could be having one or more races. Respondents who said that they were white but could trace their descent from African Americans; or whites of Asian descent; or white but of American Indian origin; or American with Indian ancestry and Alaskan natives were categorized as white or in a combination category (1). This brought about the amalgamation of white and a blend of African Americans; American Indian having blood relation of locals from Alaska or an assortment of the two; Asian or a combination; indigenous Hawaiian and resident of pacific island or a blend; and extra races or a combination.
Data users and ethnic advisory committees determined the census data products whose tabulation could or could not have racial bearings. This decision was arrived at with an intention to safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of the respondents (2). The 2000 census department endeavored to conform to instructions which were given by the management office on budget and social rights examining and enforcement (3).
The census bureau tackled issues touching on race and ethnicity by reflecting the social definition of race that is recognized in the United States of America. Data on anthropological, biological or genetic aspects were never delved into. The census bureau treated ethnicity as one’s heritage; his or her lineage; or a nationality group. The country of birth of a particular person was also be used in answering questions related to ethnicity. Ethnicity was also looked at from the perspective of one’s ancestry before one went to the United States of America. People who identified themselves as Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino were categorized to be belonging to any of the three categories aforementioned (3).
Conclusion
Issues related to ethnicity and race cannot be divorced from the population census at least for now because they offer insights into the centrality of racial and ethnic inclinations of the Americas political, social and economic setup. Capturing data on ethnicity and race enable people to appreciate the importance of diversity as well as enabling people to generate a feeling of self-worth.
Works cited
Hochschild, Jennifer and Brenna, Marea-Powell. Racial reorganization and the United States Census 1850-1930: Mullatoes, Half–Breeds, Mixed Parentage, Hindoos, and the Mexican Race. Studies in American Development. New York: HUP, 2008.
US Census Bureau. Questions and Answers for Census 2000 Data on Race. 2001. Web.
When Would a Researcher Decide to ‘Not’ Use Probability Sampling (Non-Probability Sampling)?
The characteristic feature of the nonprobability sampling is that this type of research sampling does not include a random collection of data, in contrast to the probability sampling. As a result, nonprobability samples are not able to rely upon the hypothesis of probability theory. However, while using a probabilistic sample, a researcher is aware of the odds or anticipation that he had presented the image of the population adequately; as a result, a researcher can evaluate confidence intervals for the evidence. In the case of nonprobability sampling, a researcher may or may not present the image of the population adequately; in that event, the researcher will often have difficulties in evaluating the outcomes and results of his research.
Usually, the researchers give their preference to probabilistic or random sampling approach over nonprobabilistic one and believe that they are more precise and exact. Nonetheless, sometimes situations may arise in applied social research, in which it is not attainable, functional, or reasonable from the logical point of view to use random sampling. In this case, the researchers we contemplate a wide variety of nonprobabilistic sample methods. Researchers that are operating with the conception of purposive sampling allege that non-probability methods are more appropriate for “in-depth qualitative research in which the focus is often to understand complex social phenomena” (Small 2009, p. 21).
What is Target Population?
The target population for research is the entire group of entities for which the examination information will be applied to make conclusions and presumptions. Furthermore, the target population outlines those entities for which the discoveries of the research are meant to make a sweeping statement. Enacting examination purpose is the first step towards devising research. Delineating the target population appears to be the second phase. Target populations have to be clearly and correctly delimited, as the description concludes whether sampled examples are qualified or unqualified for the research.
What Are Permission-Based Samples?
According to Seth Godin (1999), who coined the term, “Permission marketing is the privilege (not the right) of delivering anticipated, personal, and relevant messages to people who actually want them” (p. 21), and was firstly suggested in 1999. The permission marketing has led to establishing companies, associations, and programs that were based on permission marketing. Moreover, permission marketing has also massively committed to the advancement and the extension of the social media, which densely utilizes the “methods of permission marketing; ‘friending,’ ‘liking,’ and ‘following,’ all closely associates to the idea of Permission Marketing” (Barwise & Strong, 2002, p. 20). For example, Facebook or YouTube offers primary instances of permission-based samples – either it offers to post, like, or repost, the user will have to send a friend request (or permission) to the likely anticipators.
What Is Probability Sampling? Research Problem Where Probability Sampling Is the Appropriate Method
A probability sampling approach is any approach towards sampling that applies any design of random preference from among other methods. In order to apply a random selection pattern, research has to arrange some mechanism or scheme, which reassures that the disparate entities in your population possess the equivalent contingency of being chosen. The researchers gravitate towards using data processing machined and computers as the instrument for producing random numbers as the foundation for an arbitrary choice.
While using a probabilistic sample, a researcher is aware of the odds or anticipation that he had presented the image of the population adequately; as a result, a researcher is able to evaluate confidence intervals for the evidence. The example of the probability sampling approach is assessing the overall income of the selected companies on the basis of one random company.
How Do Random Sampling and Random Assignment Differ?
Random sampling and random assignment are frequently mixed up or applied conversely, despite the fact that the descriptions of the concept attribute to entirely diverse processes. Random selection concerns the choice of the sample entities of the research from the population for involvement in the research. Random assignment is a feature of the preliminary design, where objects of the research are accredited to the procedure or control group applying a random method.
In What Research Situations Would Random Assignment Be Important?
Random assignment appears in reflecting the selection of entities for the research. In a proper examination, every participant of the research is accredited in a random way to either receiving the treatment or acting as supervision in the research. Despite the fact that random assignment is an uncomplicated process, it could be questionable to enforce away from regulated laboratory conditions. The researchers depend on random assignment in cases where they need to designate subjects to diverse categories in an examination. Randomly assigning subjects provide assistance in eliminating confusing and startling variables; moreover, it is able to differentiate the independent variables that could generate an adjustment in the dependent variable (Bowling, 2005).
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Survey Administration Types, Such as Phone, the Web, Telephone, Mail, and Face-To-Face?
Various survey administration types, such as phone, the web, telephone, mail, and face-to-face, have various primary advantages. These methods are distinctly composed, responsive, and resilient. They are founded on private communication and could be contained within the research and environment. “Physical stimuli can be used, and there is the capability to observe the respondents. On the other hand, there are also some disadvantages, such as interviewer bias, high cost per respondent, geographical limitations, and time pressure on the respondents” (Alreck & Settle, 2004, p. 71).
What Are Some Potential Biases That May Be Introduced Based on the Administration Type?
In order to obtain the most exact and factual information from the entities of the research, the researchers have to comprehend and be able to avert or at least decrease the potential biases in the design of their survey administration types (Holbrook, Geen, & Krosnick, 2003). The potential biases are problems with wording, intrusiveness, leading questions; inconsistency; missing or inadequate data for intended purpose; faulty scale, etc. (Bernard, 2005).
What Are the Inherent Problems of Sampling?
The primary inherent problem of sampling is the legitimacy and accuracy of its outcomes. The resolution is situated in the three divisions of regulating a survey: “planning, data collection, and analysis and reporting” (Prierto-Taboada, 2014, p. 521). For the most part, the reporting division of regulating the survey is presented to the general public.
What Techniques Might a Researcher Use to Obtain Higher Returns of Surveys? Provide Published Examples of at Least Two Techniques
The researchers are able to implement cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys in order to achieve higher returns. The published examples of these techniques are ‘A survey of population analysis methods and software for complex pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models with examples’ by R. Bauer and ‘C n.m.r. Spectra of steroids — a survey and commentary’ by J. Blunt.
References
Alreck, P., & Settle, R. (2004). Survey Research Handbook. New York, New York: McGraw Hill.
Barwise, P., & Strong, C. (2002). Permission-based mobile advertising. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 16(1), 14-24.
Bernard, C. (2005). A catalog of biases in questionnaires. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 2(1), 13-21.
Bowling, A. (2005). Mode of questionnaire administration can have serious effects on data quality. Journal of Public Health, 27(3), 281-291.
Godin, S. (1999). Permission marketing. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster.
Holbrook, A. L., Geen, M. C., & Krosnick, J. A. (2003). Telephone versus face-to-face interviewing of national probability samples with long questionnaires: Comparison of respondent satisficing and social desirability response bias. Public Opinion Quarterly, 67(1), 79–125.
Prierto-Taboada, N. (2014). The problem of sampling on built heritage: A preliminary study of a new non-invasive method. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 21(21), 518-529.
Small, M. (2009). How many cases do I need? On science and the logic of case selection in field-based research. Ethnography, 10(1), 5–38.
Population growth is an essential indicator of societal transformation. As population grows, people move to a different location in search of resources to satisfy their needs. These movements lead to uneven distribution of people with areas having most of the resources attracting the large population. Some of the factors that tend to attract people to disparate areas thus causing this uneven distribution include physical constraints and opportunities such as topography, location, size, and climate, political and socio-economic factors. The population of Canada is not alien to these factors; for instance, approximately 34.7 million people are unevenly distributed in the three territories and ten provinces. This paper discusses Canada’s size, location, topography as well as climate, and how these factors have governed the distribution of population.
Background of Canada’s Population
The area covered by Canada is the largest country in the world after Russia and has the largest coastline. Despite the large area, it has a small population that is growing gradually. In comparison, its population forms only 11 per cent of United States’ population. A large part of Canada’s land is composed of swamps, lakes, and the Hudson Bay. Radiations from Hudson Bay cover fifty per cent of the land surface, thus making Canada unsuitable for cultivation because the land is infertile. The Canadian Shield covers the area from Arctic Ocean to Great Lakes, hence separating the eastern part of the country from the western part. The Shield and the Rocky Mountains in the North have discouraged settlement in the area because of the subarctic climate (Thraves 24).
Statistics indicate that Canada is witnessing rapid population growth. The population has increased from 11 million in the early 1940s to over 30 million as indicated by recent statistics. The population increase has been steady in the past five decades and between 2006 and 2011, the population grew by 5.9 per cent. The rapid growth hinges on immigration. Canada receives the highest number of immigrants as compared to any other country in the G8. Population increase due to increased birth rate and reduced mortality rate is only responsible for 10 per cent of the entire population growth annually (Statistics Canada Para.1). The vast land available in Canada as well as its enormous resources implies that the probability of the population increasing is high. There has been speculation that such a population accompanied with the unsurpassed exposure to natural resources could make Canada the next superpower (Roberts et al. 80).
The latest census also reveals that close to half of Canadians reside in two provinces, viz. Ontario and Quebec. The total number of people residing in Northwest, Yukon, and Nunavut is surprisingly lower than that of the tiniest province- Prince Edward Island. Canada’s population is also concentrated in the urban areas with very few people opting to live in the rural areas. Toronto is the largest town in the country in terms of population with about 2.6 million residents whilst the metropolitan section has 5 million constituents. The second in line is Montreal Quebec with a population of about 1.6 million, in the third position is Calgary that has a total population of 1 million and the rate of its growth is increasing rapidly. The population of Calgary is anticipated to reach that of Montreal within a few years if the speedy growth persists (Statistics Canada Para.1).
The rapidly growing population is unevenly distributed in the country with a majority of the citizens residing in the Southern part close to the peripheries of United States. This dense population along the Southern belt has mainly been due to the hospitable climate in the South. The summers are warm whilst the winter is friendly making a suitable climate for cultivation. Secondly, the area is close to the U.S., which is a key trading partner to Canada; hence, it is sensible for the constituents move closer to the area (Thraves 102). This information about Canada reveals that, a number of factors, especially its geography, have been influencing the population growth and distribution.
The Canadian population distribution.
Topography of Canada
A large area of Canada is largely composed of the Canadian Shield. The Shield, also referred to as the Precambrian Shield or Laurentian Plateau, forms close to fifty percent of the country and is recorded as the biggest geological continental shield in the globe. Some parts of this geological shield stretch to the northern United States. This area was the first fraction of North America that rose above the sea level. The successive rise and drops, folding, attrition, as well as continental ice sheets formed the existing topography of the land mass. The persistent incursion and removal of ice sheets that took place between 1.6 million and 10,000 years ago created pressure on the surface of the land, hence forming the Hudson Bay whilst abrading several lake basins and the soil that had been eroded because of the depression was replaced by glacial debris (Schwartzenberger 31).
The crustal plate maximum height above sea level is approximately 610 meters. However, along the northern part of the Labrador as well as Baffin, the height is almost 1500 meters. The geological shield also has several mountain ranges, which include Laurentian, Adirondack, and the Superior Highlands located in northern Minnesota. The numerous rocks and volcanic features make it a suitable area for mining metallic minerals such as zinc, gold, and uranium. The shield stretches through a landmass that amounts to 8,000,000 km2 (Twomey 65).
The Geology of the Canadian Shield
Water bodies are mainly concentrated in this crustal plate and the principal reason for this concentration is due to the watersheds in the area. The watersheds are young and as they assemble, the post-glacial rebound promotes the formation of rivers and lakes. In the ancient times, the Canadian Shield had mountains located in most parts that it covered. Nonetheless, after several persistent volcanic actions, the land was eroded to form the present topographic nature that has very low relief. Most of the volcanic belts in the region have witnessed a lot of corrosion over the past centuries, and they are now reduced to almost flat plains. The Sturgeon Lake Caldera lies in Ontario, and is among the best-conserved mineralized lakes in the globe (Shuter and Rodgers 159-181). The lake has existed for the past 2.7 billion years. Notably, the largest dike swarm in the world is located within the crustal plate- Mackenzie dike swarm. The mountains in this region have deep roots, but due to of erosion, they become extinct and rocks that were once far in inner parts of the earth are now exposed to the surface (Thraves 102). Despite the massive erosion, some mountains still exist in the northern part of Canada, commonly referred to as Arctic Cordlillera. The landmass of this region is largely divided and it contains a range of mountains with the uppermost height at Nunavut’s Barbeau Peak. In contrast, this geological shield has a strong link with the antique continent known as Arctica (Lew et al. 275).
The Canadian Shield.
The Ecology of the Canadian Shield
The rigorous glaciations that transpired during the ice age enveloped the Canadian Shield and eroded the entire rock leaving behind an emaciated layer of soil in the bedrock and some only having some bare projections. The soil found in the lowlands of the crustal plate is not suitable for cultivation or forestation for the soil highly dense; therefore, the population is this area is very scarce. The composition of soil in the remaining region of the Shield does not retain water and it is frequently frozen. The vegetation is not as concentrated as in the north. The southern region of the geological shield has an immense stretch of boreal forests that play a significant role in the preservation of the natural environment and the timber industry. However, the impact of glaciation has affected the region significantly, as hydrographical drainage is meager.
Mining and Economics
The constituents of Canada enjoy the vast land, which is rich in a variety of minerals. Some of the minerals include zinc, nickel, diamond, as well as silver. These minerals stretch unevenly across the Shield and most of towns within this crustal plate practice mining as a part of their economic activities. One of those towns that practice mining in large scale is Sudbury. The town is disparate from other towns in geological shield because it has a crater that was caused by the antique crater; that is, Sudbury Basin. This element makes it rich in metals. Diamonds exist in some parts of Northern Territories of the crustal plate. This type of topography has discouraged settlement in this region (Twomey 48). The population along the Canadian Shield is scarce as most of the land is only suitable for mining and not cultivation. The land is rocky and has poor climate thus making it inhospitable for human settlement. A majority of individuals in this area have opted to move to the southern part of Canada where they can easily trade with the U.S.
Climate
Climate has a huge impact in determining population distribution in Canada. The country’s climate is distinct from one region to another. The southern region of Canada is frequently the meeting zone for the cold air, which originates from the arctic area, and the humid air from the south. When the two meet, the air is directed to east and west. Canada’s location in the continent, as well as surrounding water bodies, plays a major role in determining the country’s climate, which explains why areas with similar latitude have disparate climate, for instance Victoria and Winnipeg (Lew et al. 275). Describing the climatic regions of an area is always difficult mainly because climate gradually changes as time progresses. However, climatologists have managed to divide the climatic regions of Canada into five major regions. The large northern region, which is poorly populated, has several climatic regions, but the main regions identified by climatologists are Arctic and Subarctic (Banting 34).
The East Coast climatic region lies within the southern region and is symbolized by Halifax. The region receives steady rainfall throughout the year except in July when the precipitation goes below the amount required by the citizens. The soil in this region can retain up to 100mm of moisture (Thraves 36). For instance, in Halifax, adequate moisture is preserved before a high demand for water rises and by the time that happens, the precipitation is often back to normal. When the land retains enough water during the time that there is adequate precipitation, run off occurs. The water lost through run off always amounts to 773mm. The climate is ideal for human settlement since it supports economic activities such as cultivation. This ideal climate, in unity with other factors, has attracted massive population in the region thus making it densely populated.
The Great Lakes climatic is the second climatic region found within the southern part of Canada along Southern Ontario and represented by Windsor. This area receives regular rainfall although the amount is lower than that of Halifax. During the summer, the region loses more water through evapotranspiration as compared to the East Coast region (Banting 24). This aspect reveals how the inner parts of the country are exposed to high temperatures during the summer. In May, the temperatures increase and surpass the amount of moisture preserved by the land, but the region starts to regain the loss in two months. In August, the land begins to receive ample rainfall and soil moisture goes back to normal. However, during the summer, the vegetation depends on the soil moisture, which is insufficient and not good for growth of plants. In Windsor, people suffer from water shortage that amounts to 86 mm yearly. This climate has discouraged settlement in the area, though the impact has not been severe. The population distribution is dense, but not as concentrated as Halifax is (Banting 37).
The Prairie climate region if typified by Edmonton. The area rarely receives enough precipitation. In this region, the temperature, which records a potential evapotranspiration of 555m, exceed the amount of rainfall that is recorded at a disappointing figure of 120 mm especially during the summer. This low-level amount of precipitation makes the soil to have a shortage of moisture mainly because when the rainfall resumes in the winter, it cannot regain the amount of moisture that was lost during the preceding months. Consequently, the climate has discouraged many from settling in the region and those who inhabit this region do so because of other factors (Twomey 46).
The dominant climatic regions in the North are the Subarctic and Arctic and are at times referred to as boreal climate, which is symbolized by Inuvik and Alert. The climate is exemplified by prolonged and cold winters, whilst the summers are brief and placid. Precipitation is rare thus causing water deficiency of about 100 mm. The vegetation in this region is of scarce variety as only hardy species survive in the area. Most of the land in this region is covered with boreal forests and the remaining land is not opportune for farming because of the barren soil and the numerous swamps instigated by ice sheets. The climate is inhospitable for human survival and this factor coupled with other reasons has discouraged people from occupying the region. There are no huge cities in the area and the few people who have decided to inhabit the zone are concentrated in minute communities (Schwartzenberger 24).
The West Coast zone has the most moderate climate in the country. It receives warm airflows from the Pacific Ocean, which is suitable for the growth of vegetation. It has maximum winters whilst the summers are minimum typified by Victoria. The area hardly receives snows especially in the lowlands, and the highlands areas such as Rocky Mountains prevent the air Prairies from reaching the region (Lew et al. 276). The prevented air then cools down around the western slopes causing massive rainfalls accompanied by frequent snows. The valleys that lie between the highlands become hot during the summer with minimal rainfall. In contrast, the West Coast has high populace because of its hospitality and suitability for farming. Settlement along this area is dense and given that many people can comfortably conduct farming, big cities have developed as industrialization progresses (Twomey 63).
Location and Size
Occupying a total area of 8.9 million km2, Canada has a population of 34, 755, 634 people. This population is contrary to the anticipation of many people, who would expect that it would be among the most populated countries in the world due to its large area. Canada falls into ten provinces and three territories with most of the Canadian land lying on the side of the three territories. However, despite the large area covered by the three territories- Nunavut, Yukon and Northwest Territories (NT), very few individuals occupy the region. The main reasons for this sparse populace include poor climate coupled with rough topography, which does not favor human survival.
Nunavut, a territory that was separated from the NT in 1999, covers the largest area in Canada, but it is the least populated area. It is home to less than 32,000 Canadians. It is among the most scarcely populated places in the globe mainly because of its low temperatures. However, the population in the region is expected to increase in the coming years principally because there is a high birth rate whilst the mortality rate is declining. The census conducted in 2011 disclosed that the populace had risen by 1.1 per cent (Statistics Canada Pata.1). Coincidentally, the next in line after Nunavut in growth rate is Yukon, another region that is sparsely inhabited. However, the territory has been suffering from massive migration as native Inuit move to other regions in search of greener pastures. The residents of this area rely on renewable energy such as diesel for survival (Roberts et al. 79).
Looking closely at this territory reveals that the low population is not only due to low temperatures coupled with poor topography that is unsuitable for agriculture, but also absence of economic opportunities. Furthermore, climate change is currently playing a critical role in promoting the scarcity of the populace in the area. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has reported that global warming is highest in the territory and the rate is still escalating. These reports are creating fears among the residents and probably these fears may result to massive emigration from the region in the near future (Marchildon and Chatwood 41-52).
Most Canadians reside in the ten provinces of Canada, especially close to the U.S. border. The most populated provinces include Ontario and Quebec, and “the two provinces are carry over half of the total population of Canada” (Shuter and Rodgers 159-181). Apart from climate, the main reasons for this high concentration include security, high-tech industrialization, modern technology, and good infrastructure. The economies of these provinces are strong and host the biggest towns in the country, viz. Toronto and Montreal. The massive development in these provinces attracts enormous number of immigrants and natives from NT who come in pursuit of employment opportunities as well as investment (Boswell 46).
However, the census conducted in 2011 showed that Alberta and Saskatchewan are having rapid population growth rates. Experts have suggested that the economy is presently moving to two provinces as industrialization is dropping in Ontario and Quebec. Even though the population of Ontario has risen to over 12.9 million, the economic downturn in 2008 is affecting the population growth (Baskerville 172). Two cities in Ontario- Windsor and Thunder witnessed a population decline mainly because of the difficulties they are currently having in the economy, which is an infrequent occurrence especially for an urbanized country like Canada.
Quebec, despite the challenges and minimal decline in growth, the province is now home to over 7.9 million people and might soon hit the 8 million mark. This growth majorly hinges on the high birth and immigration rate. However, its main challenge is the fact that native citizens of the province are moving to other areas in search of employment opportunities. Even though the province is losing potential members of the labor market, this aspect is beneficial for it is reducing the dense population in Quebec, which has surpassed the national average of 3.7 persons per km2 (Boswell 46).
The oil industry is still having a huge impact in influencing how people migrate to the Western Canada, which is evident in the way cities like Labrador and Newfoundland are rapidly experiencing population growth. Population growth in the rural areas has been decreasing steadily over the past years majorly due to the rapid growth of cities in the country (Wells, McMahon, and Ballingall 16). Currently, more than a third of the population is concentrated in the main towns of Canada, viz. Toronto, Montreal, as well as Vancouver. This intense concentration of people in towns is mainly due to the massive number of immigrants, who come to seek various opportunities such as education and jobs.
Conclusion
Even though Canada is unusually large in terms of land coverage, its population does not correspond with the area that it covers. Most parts of the country are still empty with many individuals only residing in the southern parts that border the U.S. This dense population is principally due to trade with the U.S., which is their main trading partner. The geological features of Canada have played a major role in discouraging settlement in several parts of the country, especially the Northern Territories. However, the geological features have also created a land rich in natural resources such as minerals, which is an indication of how wealthy the country would be if the population were evenly distributed to exploit the resources. Fortunately, the country’s population has not relied entirely on the geological features, as socio-economic and political factors are also playing a major role in the population distribution. Industrialization and application of modern technology has lured people to the urban areas. The massive number of foreigners migrating into the country, the high birth, and low mortality rate signify a brilliant future both politically and socio-economically for Canada.
Works Cited
Banting, Erinn. The Great Lakes, Canada: Weigl Educational Publishers, 2006. Print.
Baskerville, Jon. “Canada census 2011: Not scientifically valid.” Significance 7.4 (2010): 170-172. Print.
Boswell, Randy. “Canada Census 2011: Canada leads G8 in growth, population hits 33.5 million.” National Post. 2012: 46. Print.
Lew, Alan, Colin Hall, and Timothy Dalen. World Geography of Travel and Tourism: A Regional Approach, Massachusetts: Butterworth- Heinemann, 2008. Print.
Marchildon, Gregory, and Susan Chatwood. “Northern Canada.” Circumpolar Health Supplements 9.1 (2012): 41-52. Print.
Roberts, Lance, Rodney Clifton, Barry Ferguson, Karen Kampen, and Simon Langlois. Recent Social Trends in Canada, 1960-2000, Canada: McGill-Queens, 2005. Print.
Schwartzenberger, Tina. The Canadian Shield, Canada: Weigl Educational Publisher, 2005. Print.
Shuter, Jennifer, and Arthur Rodgers. “Delineating demographic units of woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Ontario: cautions and insights.” Rangifer 32.2 (2012): 159-181. Print.
Over the years, the US population has undergone through a rapid population growth. In 2011 the population of the US was estimated to be around 312,313,000, with a majority of the population living in the cities and suburbs. The urban dwellers made up 82% of the entire population.
In terms of geographical disparities, the population survey revealed that cities had high population than the rural areas, which were uninhabited. This paper will try to explain the factors that have contributed to the rapid American population growth rate in relation to social, economic and political aspects in regard to demographic change. In addition to this, the paper will examine how migration has influenced the American population (Dernbach and Environmental Law Institute 98).
According to the Census Bureau of America, the population has increased dramatically since the enactment and implementation of the immigration and nationality act of 1965. It was estimated that around that time, the number of legal immigrants entering the United States was a quarter of a million per annum.
By 1990, the figures had quadrupled to about one million immigrants per year. It is prudent to mention that the majority of the immigrants came from the South American countries. In connection to the Latin American immigrants, the census conducted by the Census Bureau in 2008-2009 established that in terms of birth rate, the number of children born in the United States belonging to the minorities constituted 48.6% forming the bigger chunk
Causes of increased population growth rate in America
There are various factors that have contributed to the population explosion in America. One of these factors is increased food production. It is estimated that after the World War II the world faced a recession in its economy especially in Europe. Availability of processed goods reduced drastically and precipitated the need by these countries to look to other countries for its raw materials.
America benefited from this scarcity by increasing land under cultivation, this undertaking did not only prove profitable in the economic sense, but also affected its population growth on a positive scale where the growth rate doubled from the census conducted in the 1900. It is believed that a society that is food sufficient is able to increase numerically.
The continued influx of immigrants, both legal as well as illegal, continues to be a major contributor to population growth rates. The United States of America has remained to be the most preferred immigration destination due to the better economic opportunities it offers to its populace.
Whereas the government of the United States of America has put elaborate measures to ensure that it controls legal immigration, the existence of the black market has aided the illegal immigrants to sustainably thrive in the country.
As noted by Kandel, (64), some unscrupulous business men opts to employ this illegal immigrants for some manual jobs so that they can pay them less than the minimum pay set by the labor laws. Since the illegal workers have no avenue to raise their grievances, they end up working in such establishment hence sustaining their livelihood in the United States. This has adversely affected the level population growth rates.
The provision of better health care services in America is estimated to have reduced mortality rate to be below one percent. Over the years, the American government has invested huge sums of millions of dollars in providing cheap and affordable health care by formulating laws that have seen improved access to health care facilities in addition to improved health care delivery.
After the World War II, many European countries embarked on a massive expedition to safeguard its population after massive lives were lost. This was precipitated by the United Nation Council formulating the Bill of Rights which stipulated that every person is entitled to the right of life and health.
These measures ensured that the American citizens got the best health care. In addition to availability of health care services, the American government has improved public health through the provision of water and sanitation, through improved public health contagious illness and diseases associated with poor sanitation have been eradicated by construction of efficient sewerage systems, separate water and gas lines and also through recycling of sewerage water through treatment.
The American population growth rate can also be associated with improved medical technology that has seen some diseases that increased the rate of child mortality like smallpox being eradicated through vaccination.
Medical technologies have also seen the war against diseases caused by bacteria being won through availability of antibiotics that have proved useful in treating almost all diseases caused by bacteria pathogens. This has translated to reduced mortality rate that has seen the American population increase drastically making America the third most populous country in the world.
The other factor that has led to massive increase of the American population is better economic strategy. Unlike most European countries which were devastated by the World War II. America had a sound and vibrant economy which had made most of its citizen to have jobs and access to important basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing.
This precipitated the increase in population. Also, after the war, most of the European economies could not produce their own goods and services and had to rely on imports making their economies to take a plunge in the world rating. These facts also led to mass exodus of Europeans migrating to America to smart their businesses. The impact of having an improving economy was directly proportional with population growth rate (Kandel 124).
Consequence of a rapid population growth rate in America
Although increased population growth reflects a thriving society, it has negative consequences in various facets of life and the economy. One of the negative attributes in having a rapid population growth rate especially in America is increased pressure on the environment, with an estimated 82% of the American population living in the urban areas especially in cities.
These has translated to increased environmental degradation in terms of air pollution leading to global warming that has resulted to most states in the south coast experiencing level three typhoons that have been increasing over the years. The southern states have had their share of environment calamities ranging from high-level tornadoes to increased levels of floods.
Also, it is prudent to mention that the increased population has led to increased pressure on land in terms of fertility and crop production. Fertility has reduced with over cultivation causing people to relay on fertilizers that pollute the soil as they destroy microorganisms that are necessary for aeration of the soil (United Nations Human Settlements Programme 68).
In the economic sense, an increase in population results to unemployment especially if the rate of population growth is not proportional to economic growth, which results to increased levels of poverty. In America, the government is tasked with the mandate of looking after its citizen in terms of providing shelter, clothing and meals to the homeless and the poor.
This provision has made the government to incur a lot of expenditure in facilitating such undertakings. In the economic perspective, these measures are expensive considering that at the moment, the world is coming from a global recession that has seen the American economy adversely affected.
Solution to the rapid population growth rate in America
Over the years, analyst of the American population growth rate have grappled with the question of how to have a viable population growth rate that is both environmentally and economically sustainable, having in mind that the problem that is facing China and Europe where majority of the population comprises of the old rather than the youth translating to both economic and social disparities, where in the future there will be no working class and the government will have to invest in taking care of its ageing population.
Some American analyst and organizations like the United Nations have come up with various proposals in line to having a sustainable population, one of the measures is through family planning and spacing of children. This has been facilitated by the provision of scientific family planning methods and availability of contraceptives in the market.
This will reduce the cases of unplanned pregnancies as well as juvenile pregnancies that have over the years experienced a dramatic increase, which has resulted to increased population growth as well as increasing the poverty rate as most of these young adults are unemployed (Hartman 36).
The other solution given by some analyst in regard to having a viable population that is environmental friendly is by reducing over reliance on some economic resources that have contributed to economic degradation like oil.
Oil causes a lot of emission into the atmosphere causing global warming that is associated with all the environmental catastrophes that the world faces today. Also, toxic gas emission associated with oil have led to increased rates of bronchitis associated with diseases that eventually lead to death or poor respiration among the youth causing both economic and social problems.
The need to adopt environment friendly alternatives to these resources has been spearheaded by the United Nation Environmental Program (UNEP). Also, land pressure should be reduced by coming up with improved means of soil conservation through using environment friendly fertilizers and by the American government developing the rural areas to ease the pressure on cities (Northrup 148).
Another solution that is advocated for is the need to sensitize the American population, especially the immigrant communities, to understand how a rapid population limits their chances of accessing basic needs. Most migrant communities have the notion that by having their children born in America, they automatically become citizens. Even those who are aliens in America have resulted to this measure to ensure they remain as citizens in America.
This is in disregard to the fact that most of them do not possess the right qualifications to guarantee them a job. These people have to result to manual work to sustain their livelihood and those of their children, but with the prevailing economic challenges, the end result is having a lot of poor and not so well educated migrants that have become a burden to society and the government (Louis 89).
Works Cited
Dernbach, C. John and Environmental Law Institute. Stumbling toward sustainability. New York: Environmental Law Institute. Print.
Hartman, C. Edward. The Population Fix: Breaking America’s Addiction to Population Growth. New York: Edward C. Hartman, 2006. Print.
Kandel, A.William. U.S. ForeignBorn Population: Trends and Selected Characteristics. Chicago: DIANE Publishing. 2011. Print.
Louis, Arner George. Consanguineous Marriages in the American Population. New York: Echo Library. 2007. Print.
Northrup, Cynthia. The American economy: a historical encyclopedia. New York: ABC- CLIO, 2003. Print.
United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Planning sustainable cities: global report on human settlements 2009. Nairobi: UN-HABITAT, 2009. Print
The Beck Depression Inventory II is a measurement tool used to evaluate depression based on 21 variables. The scale comprises of four points with a range of 0 to 3. The score is arrived at by adding the highest points obtained in all the twenty one (21) variables. The score range can therefore vary from 0 to 63.
The Beck Depression Inventory II score can be used to evaluate depression in a population and to determine the degree of depression. The validity of the Beck Depression Inventory II depends on the clinician’s ability to closely look at the depressive symptoms while being keen on the details of the specific variable.
This can be helpful in ensuring proper diagnosis as a prerequisite for correct psychological treatment. An accurate diagnostic instrument would maximize both sensitivity and specificity at an optimally efficient cut point (Ward, 2006).
The Beck Depression inventory tool is highly dependable and valid in measuring symptoms associated with depression as it gives adequate results indicating the extent of depression. This comes in handy in identifying people who have disorders. General and specific variables of depression in the population sample need to be considered to ensure the validity of the BDI results.
Limited information regarding the accuracy of the tool in diagnosis is available but it has the capability of being used to evaluate depression in populations. In a research on the accuracy of the Beck Depression Inventory to diagnose depression symptoms, as reported by Ward (2006), a two-year follow up on a sample of depressed outpatients showed interesting results.
It was observed that at diagnostic cut-points of 14/15 the tool was able identify 85% of those diagnosed by the SCID as positively depressed. This can be considered as somewhat high degree of accuracy. The tool can therefore be of great importance in identifying depression cases as long as correct cut points are set for the respective population.
The tool also proves to be better in diagnosis than random diagnosis. The Beck Depression tool can provide reliable results to diagnose MDD and dysthymia. However, the tool can over identify depression disorders when more sensitive cut points are established.
Reference
Ward, C. (2006). Comparison of factor structure models for the Beck Depression Inventory—II. Psychological Assessment in the Public Domain, 18(1), 81-88.