QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

As of July 2014, the U.S. population is 318,662,000 people including an approximate 11.2 million illegal immigrants. In 1967, 200 million lived in the U.S. and the 100 million - around 1915. So, the U.S. population more than tripled during the 20th century, a growth rate of about 1.3% a year, having been about 76 million in 1900.

20. The U.S. population growth rate reflects 13.42 births and 8.15 deaths per 1,000 people. The U.S.population growth rate is 0.77% (2014 est.).Total fertility ratein the U.S. is 2.01 children born/woman (2014 est.). Life expectancy is high: 79.56 years

21. The U.S. has a very diverse population. The ethnical distribution of the U.S. population on the U.S. territory is as follows:

· White 64%,

· Hispanics 16%,

· African American 12%,

· Asian American 5%

· Native American and Alaska Native 1%

· Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander 0.2%

· Multiracial 2% (2012)

22. The population growth of Hispanic or Latino Americans is a major current demographic trend. 46.9 million Americans of Hispanic descent are identified as sharing a distinct "ethnicity" by the Census Bureau; 64% of Hispanic Americans are of Mexican descent.

23. The growing American economy has always required a lot of workforce which could be reached both by the increase of the birth rate and by attracting immigrants. The Census Bureau estimates that the U.S. population will grow from 300 million in 2006 to 397 million in 2050 with expected immigration, but only to 328 million with zero immigration. "If we have zero immigration with today's low birthrates the American population would eventually begin to shrink" (B. Clinton).

1. Whose ideas provided the theoretical foundation of the American economic system?

2. What are the basic ingredients of the U.S. economy?

3. Is the U.S.A. a free market economy?

4. How can the U.S. economy be defined?

5. What is meant by the phrase ‘postindustrial’ economy?

6. What direct services and assistance are provided by the U.S. government?

7. Why is the U.S.A. referred to as a world’s leading producer?

8. Why aren’t labor unions in America powerful defendants of the rights of the working people?

9. How is wealth distributed in the wealthiest country of the world?

10. What are the reasons of such a high total public debt?

11. What was done to overcome the consequences of the 2007-2009 credit crunch?

12. What says that the U.S. population is growing and what are the sources of this growth?

13. What does the total fertility rate show?

14. What is the U.S. infant mortality rate (life expectancy)? How can it be compared with the data from Western European countries and Japan?

15. What is the age structure of the U.S. population?

16. Why do economists look carefully at the proportions of the population under 15 and over 65 years of age?

17. How does age differ by ethnicity and race?

18. What states tend to have the highest proportion of young people and the smallest proportion of older people?

19. What are the latest demographic trends in the U.S.A.?