This book examines the nature and significance of the impact of population growth on the weIl-being of developing countries-in particular, the effects on economic growth, education, health, food supply, housing, poverty, and the environment. In addition, because family planning programmes often significantly affect population growth, the study examines the impacts of family planning on fertility and health, and the human rights implications of family planning programmes. In considering the book's conclusions about the impact of population growth on development, four caveats should be noted. First, the effects of population growth vary from place to place and over time. Thus, blanket statements about overall effects often cannot be made. Where possible, the authors note the contexts in which population effects are strongest and weakest. Second, all of the outcomes examined in this book are influenced by factors other than population growth. Moreover, the impact of population growth may itself vary according to the presence or absence of other factors. This again makes bl anket statements about the effects of population growth difficult. Throughout the chapters, the authors try to identify other relevant factors that influence the outcomes we discuss or that influence the impact of population growth on those outcomes.

Klappentext

This book evaluates the evidence on the impacts of population growth on well-being in developing countries and concludes that slowing population growth from high current levels, especially in poor, agrarian societies facing pressure on land and resources, is advantageous to economic development, health, food availablitiy, housing, poverty, the environment, and possibly education. It also concludes that while other economic and social policies may affect one or a few of these components of well-being more directly, few, if any, are likely to have the breadth of impact of family planning programmes.

Inhalt
Editors' Introduction.- Toward a Cure for the Myopia and Tunnel Vision of the Population Debate: A Dose of Historical Perspective.- Fertility and Maternal and Child Health.- The Consequences of Rapid Population Growth on Human Resource Development: The Case of Education.- Population Growth, Environmental Change and Technical Innovation: Implications For Sustainable Growth in Agricultural Production.- Population, Housing, and the Economy.- Population Growth and Poverty.- An Inquiry into Population, Resources and Environment.- Evaluating the Impact of Family Planning Programmes.- Population Programs and Human Rights.