Essays

1. Describe the demographic transition theory. A number of authors have argued that the theory is inadequate to explain the demographic transition in many developing countries of Asia and Africa. Discuss.
   
2. A developing country has adopted a policy of reducing its fertility level by adopting a family planning programme. What other social policy measures would you recommend for expediting the decline in fertility? Support your recommendations with evidence.
   
3. Read carefully and compare the views expressed in the following statements:
   
   World Bank (1984)
   “Policies to reduce population growth can make an important contribution to development (especially in the long run), but their beneficial effects will be greatly diminished if they are not supported by the right macroeconomic and sectoral policies. At the same time, failure to address the population problem will itself reduce the set of macroeconomic and sectoral policies that are possible, and permanently foreclose some long-run development options."
   
   T.N. Srinivasan (1992)
   
   “There is clear evidence that in some of the poorest countries there is “population problem” in the sense of a seemingly perpetual cycle of poverty and high fertility rates. However this cycle is a reflection of policy failures such as policy induced distortions in markets (for agricultural commodities, labor, credit and capital), inadequate definition and enforcement of access rights to common property and anti-poor bias in the provision of infrastructure and public goods. The evidence also points to fertility lowering and child health improving effects of public expenditures on education (particularly female education) and health infrastructure.”
   
   

Questions

1. Define or explain the following:
1. Natural growth of population
2. Age-specific mortality rates
3. Gross reproduction rate
4. Stable population


2. Suppose that age-specific mortality rates above age 50 are reduced by 20 per cent (with no change in fertility rates or mortality below age 50). Will the following demographic indices (a, b and c) be higher, lower or the same 10 years late than they would be if no mortality change had occurred? Explain briefly.


1. Life expectancy at birth
2. Crude birth rate
3. Gross reproduction rate


3. Under what circumstances will rising mean age at first marriage have no or little effect on fertility? Briefly explain.



4. Given the following life table values:




x	n	1x	ndx	nqx	nLx	TI	eoI
20	5				(a)	5,375,000	67
25	5	75,000	5,000		350,000	5,000,000	(c)
30	5	(b)


Compute:

1. ₅L₂₀
2. 1₃₀
3. e^o₂₅


5. Explain why the absolute annual increments in the population of developing countries kept increasing between 1965 and 1985 while its growth rate decreased. See table below.
   
   Population size and rate of growth: developing countries
   
   

   	(in millions)		(percentage)
   1950	1,684	1950-1955	2.04
   1965	2,333	1965-1970	2.54
   1980	3,311	1980-1985	2.09
   1985	3,677

   
   

List of topics

Suggested reading includes textbooks and periodicals in the field of Demography covering the following topics:

• Fertility
• HIV-AIDS
• Indirect demographic estimation
• Internal migration
• International migration
• Mortality
• Population ageing
• Population and development
• Population policies
• Population projections
• Urbanization

Examination Sample: General Paper
Back to previous page

National Competitive Recruitment Examinations

Language Examinations

Language Proficiency Examinations

Other Examinations

2010 Exam Exam Samples Eligibility Criteria FAQs

2011 Exams 2010 Exams 2009 Exams FAQs

What is LPE? FAQs Contact Us

GS Exams

Last Updated: 19 April 2012