population growth and development. introduction linkage between population growth and development...

Population Growth and Development


Introduction

Linkage between population growth and development

According to conservative estimates that by 2050 world population will increase to 11 billion form 6 billion.

81 million are added annually to world population

Out of which 4 million each year born in the poor countries of Third World.

Asia and Africa account for 93% (69 million)


Structure of World Population

It is uneven. Asia and Africa bags the lion’s share of (69 million annually)

Latin America and Asia are projected to grow by 70% and 80%

Third World will hold 88% of world population by 2050 as contrasted with 70% in 1950 and 82% in 1980.

Where as population living in former soviet union, Europe and North America has fallen dramatically from 17% to less than 12% of the total.

sources of increase – fertility and migration. Demographic transition.


If population increases, then demand also increase for the basics of life such as food, water, clothing, shelter, education and health.

In 1972 there was 4 billion, out of which 70% was in LDC

I 1990 there was 5 billion, out of which 80% in LDCIn 2020 there will be 8 billion, out of which 90% in

LDCUrbanization


Thomas Robert MalthusPopulation increases in geometric terms

2,4,8,16,32,64Food resources increase in arithmetic increase

2,4,6,8,10,12He also argued that without restraint, the higher

output and living standards, predicted by Adam Smith and other economists would be constrained. Unless there was restraint on the size of families, the outlook was gloomy. There would be famine, wars and pestilence until the situation is righted itself.


Though Victorian England had population growth, it was not that impact due the fact that Victorian government made heavy investment in social capital (towns, cities, roads and houses) and industrial capital (factories and machinery)

Technological innovation and improved techniques in agriculture, especially American farmer who provided industrialized world with exports available, proved Malthus theory wrong.

Case for population growth: pro-natalist economists called people as much natural source as other factors of production. Therefore people are not hindrance in the growth. US - huddled masses Australia subsidized immigration


Easter Boser up

She argues that population growth and increased pressure on national resources, notably land are decisive precondition for technological innovation and hence for productivity improvement in agriculture.

Further, she argues that increased population growth and increased population density acts as dynamic and development promoting factors.

Population pressures prompts farmers to adopt progressively more of land utilization

According her findings where population pressures did not occur, as in parts of Africa, productivity remained low.


Julian Simon. He too saw positive co-relationship between Economic

Development and Population Growth. He reached a conclusion that rate of growth in

productivity is higher than population growth.


John Cladwell- Australian Demographer – presented different perspectives. Wealth flow Solution: Mass Education


Dependency Ratio The size of population depends on three variables –

birth rate, the death rate and migration Death rates are falling due to the medical and dietary

improvements and better living conditions. Education and availability of contraceptives are also

affecting the average size of family Also employment which has reduced the period of

fertility. Population also results in an increase in the dependency

ration, i-e, the ratio of dependant to working peopleIn LDC dependency ratio is around 40%


Social attitude One of the reason of the population growth is that

children are seen a ‘form of security for old age’Provision of welfare can reduce people

needs for children. Population control

Contraceptive - Ordinary Sterilization - India Child infanticide - China


Other perspective – Lappe Shurman.

Poverty and insecurity contributes towards high fertility level They attribute poverty and population growth as a result of uneven

distribution of power within household and society. Bringing children into world can be seen as defensive mechanism

against repressive power structure. Aggregate socio-economic development, modernization and

urbanization are not by themselves sufficient to bring about fertility decline.

Solution lies in empowering poor (political question) They suggest, they be given better earning opportunities, primary

health care service and old age care.


Demand for children in Developing countryAccording to Kuznets “the LDC’s are prolific because under their economic and social conditions large proportions of the population see their economic and social interests in more children as a supply of family labour ........... and as a matter of economic and social security........ in non protecting society.


Education of girls can serve as some kind of check.

Consequences of Population Growth Low living standard Underdevelopment


According to dependency theorist1. The problem is not population but other issues2. Population is a false issue deliberately created by

dominant rich countries and their affiliated agencies and institutions to keep LDC’s in their underdeveloped conditions.

3. for many developing countries and regions population is in fact desirable.

Other issues Underdevelopment. World Resource Depletion and Environmental pollution. Population distribution


Subordination of women. rigid socio-economic structures. unfair distribution of resources denial to have access to education and other

productive assets.


Seven negative consequences of population growth. Economic growth Poverty and inequality Education Health food Environment International migration


Policy approach Stated can design policies in way influencing and

controlling their population growth and distribution.

Promote equitable distribution of the benefits of global economic progress.

International assistance to overcome the problems of population growth.


conclusion

population growth and development. introduction linkage between population growth and development...

Documents

increased population

population pressures

developmentif population

developmentpopulation

industrialized world

world populationout

arithmetic increase

sources of increase