Population and development: A survey

This survey covers recent English-language literature on the inter-relationships between population and development in contemporary developing countries. Part I explores factors affecting mortality and fertility, and stresses the importance of the type of development which may influence population change. Part II examines the effect of population growth on the economy: little support is found for any strong positive or negative relationship between growth of population and that of real output, but it seems clear that at least among poor developing countries a slowing down of population growth must facilitate the growth of per capita output. Questions of food, employment, income distribution, health, education, urban development and some more theoretical issues are also reviewed, as well as suggestions for further research.