In this chapter, we examine many of the issues relating population growth to
economic development. however, by looking at historical and recent
population trends and the changing geographic distribution of the world’s people.
After explaining basic demographic concepts, we present some well-known economic
models and hypotheses regarding the causes and consequences of rapid
population growth in contemporary developing countries. Controversies surrounding
the significance of the population factor in general and these models and
hypotheses in particular are then explored. Finally, we evaluate a range of alternative
policy options that developing countries may wish to adopt to influence the
size and growth of their populations