What does the demographic transition model help to analyze?

The demographic transition model (DTM) is an essential tool in understanding how populations change over time through various stages of growth. This model illustrates the transition from high birth and death rates to lower birth and death rates as a society progresses from a pre-industrial to an industrialized economic system. It categorizes population changes into five distinct stages, each reflecting shifts in factors such as health care, industrialization, and urbanization, which ultimately influence population dynamics.

As societies develop, they typically experience significant changes in fertility and mortality rates. Initially, high birth and death rates characterize early stages, leading to slow population growth. As development progresses, improved living conditions, increased access to health care, and better education result in declining death rates, followed by declines in birth rates as families adapt to new social and economic conditions. This model enables researchers to analyze these transitions and understand the implications for population structure, resource needs, and social services.

The other options, while related to geography and population study, do not capture the specific purpose of the demographic transition model, which focuses on the stages and processes populations undergo as they grow and transform demographically.