Population - Development - Environment

Because the number of options is often limited, small island states tend to find it uncommonly difficult to strike a balance between population, envi ronment, and development. Relatively high population density and small land areas, without much in the way of natural resources, do not provide the best of circumstances for improving the living conditions of the popu lation, especially a fast-growing one. The result is often stunted economic development and environmental stress both on land and offshore. The developments in the island state of Mauritius over the past 30 years, however, can serve as an inspiration and illustration of how extremely ad verse conditions can be overcome. In the early 1960s Mauritius was trying to cope with rapid population growth, extreme poverty, and grim economic 2 prospects. Population density was 324 inhabitants per km , total fertility was 5.7, and GNP per capita was less than $200. In 1990 the situation in Mauritius was radically different. Although 2 population density had increased to 527 inhabitants per km , total fertility had dropped to 2.0, and GNP per capita had increased to $2,310. Economic stagnation had been replaced by steady growth and full employment, and environmental problems were being addressed as issues of high priority.

Autorentext
Prof. Dr. phil. Dipl.-Psych. Wolfgang Lutz ist seit 2007 Leiter der Abteilung für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, der Poliklinischen Psychotherapieambulanz für Ausbildung, Lehre und Forschung (PALF) und verantwortlicher Leiter des Weiterbildungsstudiengangs für Psychologische Psychotherapie an der Universität Trier.
1993 Diplom, 1997 Promotion an der Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, 2001 Habilitation an der Universität Bern. 1997-1999 Visiting Scholar und Adjunct Lecturer am Department of Psychology der Northwestern University, USA. 2000 Erhalt des Early Career Contribution Award der International Society for Psychotherapy Research. 2004-2007 war er Förderungsprofessor des Schweizerischen Nationalfonds für Klinische Psychologie/ Psychotherapie am Psychologischen Institut der Universität Bern. Er ist Associate Editor der Zeitschrift Psychotherapy Research und Mitherausgeber der Zeitschrift für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie.

Arbeits- und Forschungsschwerpunkte sind die Psychotherapieergebnis- und Prozessforschung mit den Themen Evaluation und Qualitätssicherung, kontinuierliche und diskontinuierliche Therapieverläufe, psychotherapeutische Mikrostrategien sowie die Diagnose und Behandlung von depressiven Störungen und Paarproblemen.

Klappentext

The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius was chosen as a case study for an in-depth analysis of the complex and controversial interactions between population, economic development, and environmental constraints. Mauritius, with one of the world's highest population densities, has excellent data for such an analysis. During the 1960s/70s it experienced the world's most rapid fertility decline, followed by a remarkable economic boom. Rapid industrialization, however, threatens the environment. BR The computer simulation model described in this book shows possible paths of future development that can lead to sustainable economic growth and high social development, even under high environmental standards.

Inhalt
1 Introduction.- I: What Do We Want To Understand?.- 2 Background: People and Development.- 3 Simulation Models of Demographic, Economic, and Environmental Interactions.- II: Understanding Through History.- 4 People on Mauritius: 16381991.- 5 From No-Man's-Land to a Congested Paradise: An Environmental History of Mauritius.- 6 Water Resources and Water Management.- 7 Sugar Cane and Other Agriculture.- 8 Industrial Development and the Labor Force.- 9 Sustainable Tourism.- 10 Energy.- III: Understanding Through Modeling.- 11 Philosophy of the PDE Approach.- 12 The Population Module.- 13 The Economic Module.- 14 Land Use and Regional Distribution.- 15 Modeling the Water Systems.- 16 Scenarios for Mauritius, 19902050.- 17 Alternative Histories Since 1962.- IV: Our Present Understanding: What Have We Learned?.- 18 Lessons From Mauritius in the Global Context.- 19 Epilogue: How Useful is the Mauritius Study for Other Parts of the World?.- References.