Understanding Census Data, Economy, and Human Needs
Census and Population Studies
Census: A statistical tool used to study a population in a specific area or country at a given time.
- In Chile, a census is conducted every 10 years.
- It involves a survey carried out by census takers, going house to house.
Information Obtained Through Census:
- Population size
- Population density
- Population distribution
- Place of residence, sex, age
- Religion
- Ethnicity
- Living conditions and property ownership
Note: Census data may contain inaccuracies due to false information or unemployment status. A margin of error of 2-3% is generally accepted. The Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) is the responsible institution.
The INE also calculates the vegetative growth rate. A higher rate indicates population growth, while a lower rate indicates a decline.
Usefulness of the Census:
- Informing social policies (poverty reduction)
- Educational planning
- Urban policy development
Census 2002:
The vegetative growth rate peaked in 2002. Today, Chile’s population is approximately 16 million, with an aging trend.
Regional Population Distribution in Chile
North Large: XV, I, II Regions
Cities are generally located on the coast (Arica, Antofagasta, Iquique).
North: III and IV Regions
Cities are located near reliable transportation and ports (Coquimbo, La Serena) and within transverse valleys (Copiapó, Ovalle).
Central Area: V, RM, VI, VII Regions
Many cities are interconnected (Quillota and Limache), with major ports (San Antonio and Valparaíso). Between the Aconcagua River, the population is divided between the coast and the central depression. The Central Valley extends through VI and VII regions (Rancagua, Lame, Talca, Chillán).
South: VIII, IX, XIV, X Regions
Major cities include Temuco, Puerto Montt, and Valdivia.
Southern Area
Towns are located in Patagonia, in the eastern sector of the Andes (Coyhaique, Punta Arenas, Castro, Williams).
Economy: Principles and Classifications
Economy: Derived from the Greek term for household management, it now refers to the management of resources for a company, country, or the world.
According to the United Nations (UN), countries are classified as:
- Developed Countries: Comprise 15% of the world population and produce 79.3% of the world’s wealth.
- Underdeveloped Countries: Comprise 81% of the world population and produce 20.7% of the world’s wealth.
Human Needs and Scarcity
Needs: The lack of something, unlimited in nature, and varying in importance for survival. Resources are required to satisfy these needs.
Resources: Goods and services that are limited. The infinite nature of needs and the finite nature of resources create economic problems. Scarcity is relative to the individual’s circumstances.
Economy: The science that deals with the allocation of scarce resources to meet unlimited human needs rationally.
Types of Needs:
- Primary Needs (Basic): Essential for survival.
- Secondary Needs (Redundant): Needs that enhance quality of life but are not essential for survival.
Services
Services: Activities that do not create material objects but directly or indirectly satisfy human needs.
Types of Services:
- Professional: Provided by individuals with university or institute training.
- Non-Professional: Provided by individuals without formal professional training.
Economic Indicators
Total Product: The sum of all goods and services produced by an economy in a given period.
Resources or Factors of Production
- Land: Includes crops, useful plants, arable land, urban land, and mineral resources (raw materials).
- Labor: Physical or intellectual effort of individuals involved in the production process. Workers transform raw materials using machines into capital goods or consumer goods (e.g., oven [capital] and bread [consumer]).
- Capital: Manufacturing, machinery, and equipment. All elements involved in a productive process. Capital goods are used to produce other goods.
Types of Capital:
- Physical or Real:
- Fixed: Tools used in production, lasting several cycles (machines).
- Assets: Assets in preparation for consumption (raw materials to flour).
- Financial: Funds available for the purchase of physical capital (stocks, cash).
- Human Capital: Education, vocational training, and skills that enhance the productive capacity of individuals and businesses (e.g., a college graduate).