Population growth and economic development.

17 background papers by experts in the field were commissioned to help assemble the relevant literature and to draw out important points for discussion. Based on these papers, a workshop and independent research, an attempt is made to answer what appear to be the major questions in the field. 8 major relationships that link demographic patterns and economic processes are discussed in detail. In each case, it is assumed that a country is able to achieve lower fertility level by means of a government-sponsred program, and the question, what difference would lower fertility make, is asked. The major relationships identified are: 1) slower population growth, increased growth rate of per capita income, and increase in per capita availability of exhaustible resources; 2) slower population growth, increased growth rate of per capita income and increase of per capita availability of renewable resources; 3) alleviation of pollution and degradation of the natural environment and slower population growth; 4) slower population growth, more capital per worker and increase of worker output and consumption; 5) lower population densities, per capita income and stimulus to technological innovation; 6) slower population growth and the degree of inequality in income distribution; and 8) slower population growth, the absorption of workers into the modern economic sector and problems of urban growth. The cumulation of evidence cited suggests that conventional indicators of economic progress, e.g., per capita income, or % living in poverty, will usually improve faster when population growth slows. Voluntary family planning programs that enable couples to better achieve their reproductive targets appear to be a promising vehicle for socal and economic development.