Lester R. Brown, in his book State of the World 1985 (New

Chapter 5, Problem 19

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Lester R. Brown, in his book State of the World 1985 (New York: W. W. Norton and Co., 1985), makes the following statement: The projected [population] growth for North America, all of Europe, and the Soviet Union is less than the additions expected in either Bangladesh or Nigeria. In this exercise, you are asked to carry out the type of calculations that could be used to support Lester Browns projection for the period 1990 2025. The source of the data in the following table is the Population Division of the United Nations. Projected relative 2025 1990 growth Projected Population rate population Region (millions) (%/year) (millions) North America 275.2 0.7 ? (Former) Soviet 291.3 0.7 ? Union 291.3 0.7 ? Europe 499.5 0.2 ? Nigeria 113.3 3.1 ? (a) Complete the table, assuming that the populations grow exponentially and that the indicated growth rates are valid over the period 1990 2025. (b) According to the projections in part (a), what will be the net increase in Nigerias population over the period 1990 2025? (c) According to the projections in part (a), what will be the net increase in the combined populations of North America, the (former) Soviet Union, and Europe over the period 1990 2025? (d) Compare your answers in parts (b) and (c). Do your results support or contradict Lester Browns projection?