Population Growth and Economic Development: Policy Questions

摘要

The report summarizes evidence on the relationships between population growth and economic development, concentrating on the developing nations. Historically, the issue originated as one of concern for the deleterious consequences of rapid population growth: some analysts saw disaster in the offing if the then-current rates of growth continued; others saw no problem at all. These positions are considered, as well as the more moderate positions favored by many scholars. The report finds little support for either the most alarmist or the most complacent views concerning the effects of population growth on economic development. Following an introduction that sets forth the problem, the report addresses nine relevant and currently debated major questions bearing on these relationships and then summarizes the conclusions in a final chapter.