Economic Development Stimulates Population Growth - Essay Example

Economic Development Stimulates Population Growth The relationship between economic development and population growth goes in two directions. Population seems to grow geometrically while food supply is arithmetical. Higher economic development increases population by motivating earlier marriages and high birth rates as well. Economic growth slows down mortality rates by elimination of factors such as malnutrition and insecure health standards by the elites. On the other hand, high population dispirits economic development through retreating returns. The dynamic relationship between economic and population growth is based on the Malthusian model, implying a fixed population in the long run equilibrium (Becker 146). The logical explanation for the growth of population is generally found on the fact that improvement of economic conditions such as noticeable improvements in public health resulted in reduced mortality rates and to an increase in birth rates. Income per capita stands-in for economic conditions with the reason that it reflects the impact on education, technology, and health, suggesting that there is a strong connection between population and capita income. The main theories developed by economists to clarify the development of population relate it to every capita income rather than aggregate output, implying that there is a direct link between population size and per capita income. An increase in each capita, therefore, leads to an increase in population size (Hess 56). A case to support that economic development stimulates population growth what can be in an example of technology transfer. Someone initiates a medicine on the original island to lower death rates, putting the mortality pace at half of the innovative rate at migration time. With time, the fertility responds kindly, despite the reason and so the rate of reproduction is retrieved with a positive number faintly above one. As a result of a surplus in resources and increase in technology, it is highly probable that the island population would benefit from the amazing life-saving tactics and medicines discovered originally. The medicines are delivered by the use of technology, for instance, original boat technology, but approved by the idea of learning-by-doing. The phenomenal success of the new found medicine would lead to a decline in mortality rate and the island will experience an increase in population like never before. According to Payne (224), estimates of the value of life in monetary terms can be used to value the life improvements that have resulted from economic developments in the health sector. We can estimate the money value that people would be able to pay so that they can forgo health gains. For instance, someone living with the current income in the United States would require a certain life expectancy. This income value that they need is a measure of value of long life and good health. In addition, the health facilities brought about by technology in this field have been, for some time now, responsible for saving many people from deadly diseases which could not be treated without economic development. Healthy living due to consumption of nutritious, safe food and fruits from advanced agriculture is also a chief contributor to long life and sustenance of the elderly among the communities. As much as Malthus will argue that economic development stimulates population growth, his pessimists believe that mankind is predestined as a result of overconsumption and overpopulation. Optimists, on the other hand, do argue that technological innovations improve living standards, thus, population growth is a minor issue (Payne 236). This renewed debate receives global attention noting that there is also another vital debate that is less visible, though equally important. This is the discussion on the effects of demographic policies and trends put forward by leaders in the least-developed nations. Most of these leaders argue that birthrates and population growth are too high. Some adverse impacts include poverty and slow economic growth, poor health among children and women, overcrowded clinics and schools, a huge burden on the infrastructure, and depletion of natural resources. Moreover, high rates of inequality and unemployment among quickly growing tender generations may lead to the spread of civil strive and political violence. In their response to the growing population, the pessimists suggested the use of family planning methods in stabilizing the birth rates. This came up after an experiment carried out in Matlab, a rural area in Bangladesh. This experiment was in 1970, when Bangladesh was among the most populated countries. Comprehensive reproductive health and family planning services were offered in the treatment region of the experiment. Different methods were put in place, high-quality referral, with follow ups by a new cadre of well-trained attendants replacing the traditional service providers. The use of contraceptives rose rapidly with the implementation of the improvements. In the comparison area, no such observations were made. The differences in the two regions in fertility and contraceptives were the basis of the argument for implementation of the Matlab model in Bangladesh as a public family planning strategy, thus, low fertility achieved. In my view, this is not a logical response to the relationship between economic development and population growth. These pessimists do forget that family planning is a new technology brought by economic development. Countries that are still developing may not be able to offer this heath facility to their citizens if they remain economically underdeveloped. Governments only compare benefits and costs when determining whether advancing in a family planning program is worth. Costs include management and personal delivery systems, contraceptive commodities, while benefits include improved welfare in health, where the mother and the infant are both protected from medical risks such as HIV transmission. These are again the incentives that are used to increase life chances and thus the implementation of technology is a factor that will enhance population growth. Family planning can only be possible if the country and its citizens are financially secure. Furthermore, countries with developed economy are populated with couples who have made up their minds on the number of children they can afford to bring up. It is clear that parents select the sizes of their families just in the same way they earn, and therefore the more the ability and stability of a family, the more children since they have sufficient resources to bring up more children. Works Cited Becker, G. S. “Population and Economic Growth.” American Economic Review, 89.2, (1999): 145-149. Print. Hess, Peter. Population Growth and Socioeconomic Progress in Less Developed Countries: Determinants of Fertility Transition. New York: Praeger, 1988. Print. Payne, J. E. “Population and Economic Growth: A Review of the Literature from Malthus to Contemporary Models of Endogenous Population and Endogenous Growth.” Journal of Economic Dynamic and Control. 21.1 (1997): 205-242. Print. Read More