The demographic transition model

Economic development and quality of life

This resource relates to the AQA specification for GCSE (UK) exams from 2018 onwards. The lesson is part of the ‘The changing economic world’ module. The scheme will require approximately 11 hours of teaching time. This series of lessons investigates how development is measured. The effectiveness of the various development indicators are scrutinised, in order to gain an accurate insight into the true development of a country. The demographic transition model is studied to show how and why populations change, as a country develops. Students are then taught to relate these ideas to population pyramids, and learn to interpret the shapes of population structures. The scheme analyses why some areas of the world struggle to develop, while others prosper. Finally, the effect of this uneven development is considered.