Six Billion Plus: Population Issues in the Twenty-first Century(Human Geography in the New Millennium: Issues and Applications)

An exploration of world population growth and its implications for the 21st century. With a population exceeding six billion at time of publication and expected to reach ten billion by the mid-century, the world's demographic situation is more critical than ever, by almost any measure. While the developed world faces its own problems with an ageing population and population decline, most of the growth will occur in the developing world. So the strongest factors shaping the global environment in the decades to come will include population fertility, social and economic impacts of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, legal and illegal immigration, and refugees. The implications are enormous; population growth exacerbates food and resource scarcities, places pressure on institutions, and promotes the potential for conflict. Drawing on a geographical perspective and using examples from around the world, this illustrated text should be suitable for population courses in geography as well as in areas such as economics, sociology and politics.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: The World of Child 6 Billion; Fertility and State Policy; The (Un?)Certainty of Death and Disease; The Impact of HIV and AIDS; Immigration: Closing or Opening the Door?; Refugees, Asylees, and IDPs: The Growing Crisis; Population, Economic Growth, Resources, and the Environment; The Potential for Conflict; Conclusion: Five Demographic Forces That Will Shape the World; Glossary of Key Terms and Acronyms; Selected Biography; Population Web Sites.

About the Author :
K. Bruce Newbold is associate professor of geography at McMaster University.

Review :
"An impressive synthesis of a large amount of material, put together in a way that will challenge and interest undergraduates. Overall, the book achieves its aims clearly and succinctly and is a sound introduction to contemporary population issues." --Progress In Human Geography "An insightful and accessible book that provides an overview of global population issues from a geographical perspective. Its impact on the field could be substantial." --Ecsp Report "I found K. Bruce Newbold's Six Billion Plus to be a very insightful and helpful book that increased my understanding of the major issues facing the world's inhabitants. I recommend it for use as a college text, a reference work, and for one interested in reading about the world's population situation from a geographic perspective." --Samuel M. Otterstrom, Professional Geographer "Bruce Newbold provides a highly insightful perspective on the critical population issues emerging in this new century. Six Billion Plus is a rigorous and provocative analysis that will inspire students to read further. Newbold's geographic lens gives focus to the complexity of the factors underlying demographic trends as well as the far-reaching implications of population for us all, as global and community citizens." --Ellen Percy Kraly, Colgate University