Population Trends and Controls in Underdeveloped Countries

Factors which influence birthrates and population growth are examined and how population growth in turn influences economic progress in underdeveloped nations is described. In the early part of this century population growth was much more rapid in developed than in underdeveloped areas. Currently the population of the underdeveloped areas is growing at a rate of about 2% annually compared with only a little over 1% in developed areas. The following 7 factors associated with birth and death rates are discussed and how they may be changing is noted: 1) the amount of inanimate energy consumed as an index of technical and economic development 2) income 3) food supply and quality 4) education and literacy 5) urbanization and industrial composition 6)participation of women in the work force and 7) the association of high death rates with high fertility rates. Population growth affects the rate of economic development and the individualss standard of living. Any population growth will retard per capita income unless it is accompanied by an increase in goods and services and a surplus to be used for capital reinvestment. 6-8% of net national output must be allocated for investment simply to keep up with a population growth of 2% a year. In order to produce more goods and services the output per worker must be increased: this can only be done through industrialization. Through the process of economic development labor can be utilized more efficiently. As each worker produces more the standard of living rises. If the present rate of population growth continues the population of the underdeveloped world could increase by 100% to 175%. It is difficult to make an economy grow at a rate much faster. Fertility levels must be reduced if significant economic progress is to be made. Factors which might help lower fertility levels are the growth of the economy increased education heightened aspirations and the availability of birth control information.