Based on the views expressed by McNicoll (1984), World Bank (1984), and National Research Council (1986 cited in Kelley, 1988), I argue that the underdevelopment of Africa (as measured by per capita output) is caused by rapid population expansion. The negative effects of rapid population's growth on economic growth and development occurred in situations where arable land and water becomes scarce or costly to acquire, rights to land and natural resources are poorly defined, and government policies are biased against labor. It is obviously and generally agreed by scholars that development problems (peculiar to Africa) such as unemployment, famine, and malnutrition are caused by rapid population growth, and that an emphasis on policies either
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79). The Report indicates that at rates of less than 2%, population growth can be accommodated hence living standards can continue to rise, albeit at a slower pace. Lastly McNicoll (1984 cited in Kelley, 1988) concludes that "rapid population growth is a serious burden on efforts to generate sustained increase in per capita product". The following will discuss specifically empirical findings that points to the fact that, rapid population growth causes underdevelopment in third worlds countries, especially Africa. …show more content…
(1997) agrees with Coale and Hoover (1958), Neilsen and Alderson (1995) and Lee (1980) assertion that high fertility, rapid population growth and high youth dependency ratios are detrimental to development and particularly responsible for the underdevelopment of Africa. The negative effect of the average annual rate of growth of the population below age 15 on economic development is robust, and its effect is generally larger than that for annual average growth of the population age 15 and above. This suggests that when the two age- specific measures of population growth are of roughly equal magnitudes, the growth of the adult population will not compensate for growth of the child population. In other words, the benign contribution of labor force participation will be overwhelmed by growing youth dependency. Clearly, the classic triangular population pyramid is not optimal for economic
79). The Report indicates that at rates of less than 2%, population growth can be accommodated hence living standards can continue to rise, albeit at a slower pace. Lastly McNicoll (1984 cited in Kelley, 1988) concludes that "rapid population growth is a serious burden on efforts to generate sustained increase in per capita product". The following will discuss specifically empirical findings that points to the fact that, rapid population growth causes underdevelopment in third worlds countries, especially Africa. …show more content…
(1997) agrees with Coale and Hoover (1958), Neilsen and Alderson (1995) and Lee (1980) assertion that high fertility, rapid population growth and high youth dependency ratios are detrimental to development and particularly responsible for the underdevelopment of Africa. The negative effect of the average annual rate of growth of the population below age 15 on economic development is robust, and its effect is generally larger than that for annual average growth of the population age 15 and above. This suggests that when the two age- specific measures of population growth are of roughly equal magnitudes, the growth of the adult population will not compensate for growth of the child population. In other words, the benign contribution of labor force participation will be overwhelmed by growing youth dependency. Clearly, the classic triangular population pyramid is not optimal for economic