Final answer:
The correct statement is that if the growth rate remains steady, the population size will continue to increase by larger increments with each generation. Population growth is primarily determined by the balance of birth rates and death rates, and can also be influenced by immigration and emigration. The broader economic situation, such as GDP growth relative to population growth, can also influence population dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is true about growth rate and population size is: When the growth rate decreases, population size will not necessarily increase by greater increments with each successive generation. Instead, the correct relationship between these two factors is that if the growth rate remains steady, the population size will continue to increase by greater increments with each generation. This is because a consistent growth rate applied to an ever-increasing population will result in larger numerical increases over time, even though the rate stays the same, due to compounding effects.
On the other hand, when the birth rate exceeds the death rate, the population size increases. Conversely, if the death rate is greater than the birth rate, the population size will decrease. If the birth and death rates are equal, the population size remains stable. Additionally, factors such as immigration and emigration also affect the population growth rate. The formula r = (b + i) - (d + e) encapsulates how these elements contribute to the change in population size.
To further illustrate this, it is important to consider that the economic and environmental context can significantly affect the population dynamics. For example, if the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grows slower than the population, GDP per capita tends to decrease, which can impact standards of living and resources availability, which in turn can influence birth and death rates.