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Subject: Economics
Semester: 2
Period: 4
Week: 23
School Name:
Teacher’s Name:
Subject: Economics
Grade Level: Grade 11
Week & Period: Week 23, Period IV
Date:
Topic: Population and Labor Market
Sub-topic: Optimum Population, Under-population and Over-population
Specific Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:
- Define optimum, under- and over-population
- Compare the effects of each population condition on national resources and the labor market
- Discuss examples and indicators of each type of population in Liberia and globally
- Analyze the implications of these population states on economic growth and development
A – Anticipation (Engage learners)
Starter Question:
“Can a country have too many or too few people? What happens in either case?”
Think-Pair-Share:
Students write short answers to this question individually, then share ideas with a partner. Finally, a few students present their thoughts to the class.
Introduce a scenario:
Liberia has 5 tractors but only 2 trained operators. What problem might arise here?
B – Building Knowledge (Core Content)
- Optimum Population
- Occurs when the number of people is just right for the available resources.
- Results in maximum productivity per person.
- There’s no excess unemployment or waste of resources.
- Under-Population
- Occurs when there are too few people to make full use of available resources.
- Common in countries with low birth rates or emigration (e.g., Canada, Australia).
- Effects include:
- Labor shortages
- High cost of public infrastructure per person
- Slow economic growth
- Over-Population
- Occurs when there are too many people relative to resources.
- Can be seen in densely populated areas with limited jobs or services.
- Consequences include:
- High unemployment
- Poverty
- Overuse of natural resources
- Poor living conditions
Comparison Table:
|
Criteria |
Optimum Population |
Under-population |
Over-population |
|
Resource Use |
Maximum |
Underutilized |
Overused |
|
Standard of Living |
High |
Moderate |
Low |
|
Employment Level |
High |
Unfilled jobs |
High unemployment |
|
Examples |
Switzerland |
Australia |
Bangladesh, parts of Liberia |
C – Consolidation (Application and Reflection)
Class Activity:
Provide a brief data set showing population and available jobs in three imaginary countries. Let students classify each one as over-, under-, or optimum population and justify their choices.
Discussion Prompt:
“Do you think Liberia is under-populated, over-populated, or at its optimum? Why?”
Let students cite reasons related to agriculture, urban crowding, job markets, or migration.
Assignment:
In one page, write a short report explaining:
- What would happen if your community's population doubled within 5 years?
- Suggest two ways the government could prevent over-population.
Teacher’s Reflection:
- Were students able to understand and differentiate population types using real-world indicators?
- Did the comparison activity help link theory to everyday experience?
- Identify learners needing more support with applying population terms in context.