Population, Poverty, and

Sustainable Development:
A review of the evidence
Introduction
In recent decades, there has been little policy attention to the potential benefits of reducing high fertility in low-income
countries. These have not been seen as compelling, despite many careful studies documenting them. This is partly because
the studies are scattered across different subjects, such as family health, economic growth, and environmental change. It is
also partly because an earlier literature argued that lowering fertility was largely irrelevant (or even counter-productive) to
developing countries‘ prospects for economic growth and poverty reduction.
The evidence on these issues, by reviewing the literature on three
themes:-
 Does high fertility affect low-income countries‘ prospects of economic growth and poverty reduction?
 Does population growth exacerbate pressure on natural resources?
 Are family planning programs effective at lowering fertility?
 Does High Fertility Affect Low-income Countries’ Prospects for Economic Growth and
Poverty Reduction?

 Since the 1960s, economists have taken very different positions on the implications of population dynamics for economic
growth.
 They found that lower fertility is associated with better child health and schooling, and better health and greater labor-
force participation for women. They also indicated that rapid population growth can constrain economic growth,
especially in low-income countries with poor policy environments.
 The time of Malthus onwards, economists, demographers and other social scientists have been debating whether and
how high fertility and rapid population growth affect economic outcomes and vice versa.
Malthus’ original idea
He explained that the human population grows more rapidly than the food supply until famines, war or disease reduces the
population. He believed that the human population has risen over the past three centuries .
Does Population Growth Exacerbate Pressure on Natural Resources?
Natural resources are the constant things required for the growth and development of mankind. However, the availability of
natural resources is limited. An increase in population directly increases the need for such natural resources.
Are family planning programs effective at lowering fertility?
 Family planning programs seek to expand the availability of contraceptives and reduce barriers to their use. They are
especially important for the poor, who typically have higher numbers of unwanted children than the rich except in settings
with very effective programs, such as Indonesia (Figure 5).
 Family planning programs also typically disseminate information on contraception, and on how lower fertility can help
parents invest in their children and avail new opportunities for raising living standards. Parents especially poorer parents
have imperfect information on these issues. Households also appear to face difficulties in making optimal choices that
involve long-term planning horizons.