Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle

to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

Unit Seven
7. Population Policy

Dear learner, in this chapter you are going to learn about the meaning and types of population policy,
factors affecting population policies, and the meaning and relationships between population,
environment and development.

Objectives

At the end of this unit, you will be able to:

 Define population policy

 Distinguish the types of population policy
 Describe about factors affecting population policy
 Explain the relationship between population, environment and development.

7.1. Definition of Population Policy

?What is population policy?

Population policy may be defined as deliberately constructed or modified institutional

arrangements and/or specific programs through which governments influence, directly or
indirectly, demographic change. Moreover, it influence population growth and distribution involve
a wide range of decisions and actions by governments, both direct and indirect, which influence
individual and family decisions regarding marriage and childbearing, working arrangements, place
of residence, etc.

Population policy can be; (i) direct or explicit – government actions taken for the purpose of
affecting a demographic outcome, e.g., fertility rate; or (ii) indirect or implicit – government actions
that only indirectly have some demographic effects, e.g., promoting female education. Direct and
indirect population policies can be applied at the same time for a given population intervention
mechanisms or target. For example to slow population growth: Explicit Policies – Provide free
family planning services – Increase taxes for each additional child – Restrict immigration – Raise
the age of marriage. Implicit policies – Compulsory secondary education – Restrict child labor –
Limit size of houses – Raise status of women – Provide old age security

We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

The generality of the definition lends itself to varying interpretations. For any given country, the
aim of population policy may be narrowly construed as bringing about quantitative changes in the
membership of the territorially circumscribed population under the government's jurisdiction.
Additions to membership are affected only through births and immigration; losses are caused by
emigration and by deaths. Concern with this last component is usually seen as a matter for health
policy, leaving fertility and migration as the key objects of governmental interest in population
policy.

More broadly, policy intent may also aim at modification of qualitative aspects of these
phenomena–fertility and international migration–including the composition of the population by
various demographic characteristics and the population's spatial distribution.

Furthermore, governments' concern with population matters can also extend beyond the borders of
their own jurisdictions. International aspects of population policy have become increasingly salient
in the contemporary world.

7.2. Types of Population Policy

? Distinguish the similarity and differences between pronatalist and anti-natalist population policy.

According to the United Nations report, among the 201 countries in 2017 it is estimated that 83 had
low levels of fertility, as the fertility of the population was below the level required for the long-term
replacement of the population. On average, women in those countries bear fewer than
2.1 children over a lifetime (United Nations, 2017). In addition, 96 countries or areas had
intermediate levels of fertility, with women bearing between 2.1 and 5 children, while 22 were
characterized by high level of fertility, with a woman bearing more than 5 children. Of the countries
with levels of fertility, 20 are in Africa and 2 in Asia.

7.2.1 Pro-Natalist Population Policy

Pro-natalist population policy aimed at more births and faster population growth, have been
pursued in times and places where national well-being has been equated with population size. When
a country is experiencing a negative population growth and an ageing population, it places great
strain on social security systems due to decreasing income from taxpayers. A larger proportion of
the population becomes increasingly dependent on a diminishing workforce.
Globally, 28 per cent of governments have adopted policies to raise the level of fertility. Europe
(66 per cent) has the highest proportion of countries seeking to increase fertility, followed by Asia
38 per cent (United Nations, 2017).
We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

Among others, Sweden are pro-natalist and aim to demonstrate that social changes which have
resulted in their very high levels of female employment, are not incompatible with birth rates above
the European average. Other countries, such as Russia, adopt pro-natalist policies to address low
fertility rates, high mortality rates and stagnant immigration that have resulted in a shrinking
population.
Among countries with fertility below replacement level (2.1 children), 62 per cent have adopted
policies to increase fertility. This might encourage governments to implement and persuade people
to have more children. Specific measures include:social security benefits; child support; subsidized
daycare, paid parental leave, incentives for women to work, tax reductions and incentives, equality
bonus, financial aid and support, cheap transport and incentives for families to have larger family
e.g. baby-bonus schemes, flexible work schedules,

While in the world’s biggest economy, the US, there is a more neutral approach as it has a relatively
robust fertility rate and, as it is a country still immigration friendly, it is likely to avoid the low
fertility and aging issues now unfolding in Europe.

7.2.1 Anti-natalist Policies

Definition: A policy that tries to reduce birth rates. This can be done through better education on
We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

family planning and better provision of contraception or a more rigid forced policy like China’s. A
country may introduce an anti-natalist policy for twoReasons: (i) Either…it is Overpopulated (the
population is higher than the resources available); (ii) OR…It has a young population (high birth
rates and total fertility rate).

Globally, 42 per cent of governments have adopted one or more policies to lower current levels of
fertility (United Nations, 2017). Policy measures to reduce fertility include: raising minimum legal
age at marriage; providing access to reproductive health care, including low cost, safe and effective
contraception, integrating family planning and safe motherhood programme into primary health
care systems; and improving female education and employment opportunities.

Table 6.1. Policies to influence the level of fertility, by region (percentage of governments)

All countries with high fertility and 64 per cent of those with intermediate fertility have policies to
lower the fertility level of the population. Reducing fertility through appropriate policies can
facilitate the achievement of the Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development especially those related to poverty, nutrition, health, education and gender equality.

For instance, China and India decided to pursue aggressive anti-natalist population control
measures in response to projected population growth.

China has probably the most famous anti-natalist policy in their one child policy introduced in the
1970s. The policy was created after Chairman Mao had encouraged people to have lots of children
to increase the country’s workforce. The population doubled from 1949 to 1979. This increase
We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

outstripped China’s supply of food and there was a famine in 1958–1960 in which 20– 48 million
died. Drastic measures were believed to be needed and this lead to the formation of the one child
policy which became law in 1979 and was abolished in 2015.

Birth policy now allows married couples to have two children but it will still be tightly controlled
by the issuing of ‘birth permits’ to eligible couples, fines known as ‘social compensation fees’ if
you have more than two children and significant difficulties for any additional children who have
to struggle through life without a birth registration document. However, it is possible that only
children will have now become the norm with surveys showing that couples now believe the ideal
number of children is one, under anti-natalist policy called One Child policy. China now face up
to the consequences of this policy that has resulted in an alarmingly unbalanced population with
respect to gender, and a predicted 200 million old people with little social support in place.

7.3. Factors Affecting Implementation of Population Policies

?What are the factors that affect population policies?

There are a number of factors that influence the national population policy of a country. These
factors are grouped into three categories.

(i). Political factors:

These factors include the following legal actions and regulations:

a. Laws entirely or party determined by population phenomena – these laws include such
demographic phenomena as ethnic composition, population size, labor force composition and
geographic distribution.

b. Laws indirectly affecting population: these are laws related to marriage, family and economic
matters; minimum at marriage, rights and privilege of illegitimate children, employment laws
especially those related to the rights of women and children to work.
We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

c. Laws having a direct effect on population: these laws are relate to regulations such as those
directed towards fertility (contraception and abortion cases) and migration (encouragements/and
discouragement of emigration and immigration).

Moreover, the implementation and readiness to set a better population policy rests on the will,
support and participation of political leaders and government commitment as well as individual
families.

(ii) Social factors

The implementation of population policy can also be influenced by such social factors as ethical,
moral and theological or religious convictions. This implies the will support and participation of
religious leaders, the community participation and mass organizations determine the entire
performance of population policy.

(iii) Economic factors

The availability of financial resources and economic considerations and needs greatly influence the
success of population policies.

7.4. Population, Environment and Development

? Dear learner, do you know the relationship between population, environment and development? If
yes, explain in detail.

A population is the total number of people living in a particular place at a particular time. Similarly,
the environment is the surrounding in which we live. All the factors of the environment affect the
social and economic condition of a human. Environment denotes the sum total of physical and
biological factors that affect the survival, growth, development and reproduction of an organism.
Population, environment, and development are interrelated to each other. Environment affects the
life of living organisms and socio-economic development process.

We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

Development simply means progress or positive change. It indicates the positive growth in the
economy, structure, attitude, and institution from positive aspects. Development brings positive
change in the existing situation. It brings progress or positive change in social, economic and
cultural aspects in the society and the nation. Development brings peace and security along with it.
It helps to fulfill the needs and desires of every citizen of the nation. It also increases the capability
of people to be self-dependent. It helps in the proper utilization of the natural resources of the
country. The satisfaction of human needs and aspirations is the ultimate objective of development.
Development does not only mean economic progress but it is beyond the economic progress for
freedom, equity, health, education, safe environment and much more in the nation building process.

Talking about man and environment, it is impossible for man to live without environment. There
is a very strong interaction between man and environment. The interaction between man and
environment are of two types. They are positive interaction and negative interaction. Positive
interaction means doing activities on the environment that helps in the protection and preservation
of the environment. Positive interaction with environment results clean environment, fresh air, pure
drinking water, pollution free environment etc. This activity does not harm the environment.
Similarly, negative interactions with environment mean doing those activities on the environment
that causes pollution, energy crisis, deforestation, unprecedented natural hazard etc. People conduct
various developmental activities on the environment which affects the various resources of the
environment. While conducting developmental activities, we need to balance and coordinate
between population, development activities and the environment. We should carry out
developmental activities in a sustainable manner. People get all the things from environment
necessary for their life. Various developmental activities related to agriculture, industry, health,
education, transportation, communication, security, human settlement, science, technology, and
employment are conducted in the environment. If these activities are not conducted properly, it
may affect the environment and may create difficulty in the life of living organisms. So,
development activities should be carried out along with the preservation and protection of the
environment. We should not harm the environment to fulfill our needs and desires. It is the
responsibility of every people to protect and conserve the environment. Developmental activities
should be carried out with proper planning and long-term vision. We should establish good

We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

coordination among population, environment and development activities.

7.4.1. Concept of Development
Development means the process of developing or being developed. It is also the growth, progress,
positive change, and success. Development helps in the proper utilization of natural resources,
skills, and technical knowledge in order to fulfill the human needs. Development helps to establish
peace and security. It helps to fulfill human needs and aspiration. It brings positive change in our
society and nation. Development is the process by which the members of society increase their
personal and institutional capabilities to mobilize and manage resources. Development helps to
increase the quality of life of people as there is good access to education, health care, employment
opportunities, safe and clean environment and so on. Development brings positive and structural
change in existing physical, human and socio-cultural situation. It helps to fulfill the needs and
desires of each and every citizen. It makes people self-dependent and helps to increase their living
standard. Development also means planned urbanization and industrialization.
The renowned development economist Micheal Todaro has defined development as "a multi-
dimensional process involving changes in structure, attitude and institutions as well as the
acceleration of economic growth, the reduction of inequality and the eradication of absolute
poverty." Similarly, another scholar Chi- Yuen Wu has defined development as, "A process of
societal transformation from a traditional society to a modern society is called development and
such a transformation is also known as modernization."

Development means positive change. The main aim of development is to fulfill the human needs
and aspiration. Some of the needs like food, shelter, clothing; education, communication, health
service, drinking water, sanitation, energy and entertainment are the basic needs. If development
activities are properly planned then it not only fulfills the needs and aspiration of people but also
protect, preserve and promote the environment in every step of developmental activities. There are
various dimensions of development like rural development, human resource development,
economic development, community development, urban development, environment protection
climate change, good governance, accountable and efficient administration etc.

The following aspects are incorporated in the concept of Development:

 Development of Human Skill

We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

 Equity and liberty

 Environmental balance
 Promotion of quality of life
 Promotion in the sense of self-esteem
 Get rid of poor economic trap
 Mobilization of resources
 Orientation from traditional to modern perspective
 Economic, social, political and cultural progress
 Response to effective and goal oriented demand
 Production of necessary goods and services
 Poverty alleviation and fulfillment of needs
 Socio- economic transformation
 Development of technology

Infrastructure of Development

There are various aspects of development like a development of human capability, development of
technology, economic progress, improvement in living standard, fulfillment of needs,
environmental balance and social development. We can develop the economic status by the proper
utilization of natural resources with the help of skilled and competent human resource.

The infrastructure of development refers to the basic requirements availed to economic and social
development. The development as a whole depends on its infrastructure. It is considered as the
pillar of development. Some of the examples of the infrastructure of development are roads,
bridges, water supply, schools, hospitals etc. The infrastructure of development helps to achieve
the development according to the plan. If there is good infrastructure, then the developmental
activities can be carried out very smoothly and easily. Bu if there are no enough infrastructure, then
it becomes very difficult to complete the developmental activities in the given time or
developmental activities may be stopped. There are various aspects of the infrastructure of
development. Some of the aspects of infrastructure of development are discussed below,

 Physical Aspect: Infrastructures like road, bridge, canal, drainage, communication, transportation,
We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

electricity etc comes under the physical aspects of infrastructure. Physical aspects help to carry out
developmental activities smoothly and easily as per plan. It helps the complete the developmental
activities in time.
 Social aspect: Social aspects of infrastructure are human knowledge, skill, efficiency,
norms and values etc. This is also one of the important aspects necessary to carry out
developmental activities. Some of the other social aspects of infrastructure are education,
transportation, electricity, social security etc.
 Economic Aspect: To carry out developmental activities, we need proper economic
planning and policies along with capital. We cannot conduct developmental activities
without capital. Development activities can be conducted very effectively if there is strong
and sustainable economic infrastructure. Some of the examples of economic aspects of
infrastructure are banking systems, industrialization, capital etc.
 Human Resource: We cannot conduct developmental activities without human resource.
We need skilled manpower to conduct developmental activities properly. Some of the
examples of human resource are doctors, teachers, lawyers, technicians, journalist etc. We
need skilled manpower in the field of education, agriculture, health, communication,
science and technology.

7.4.2. Population and Resource Utilization

Resources can be understood as all valuable materials that can be found in nature and human
society, including natural resources and social resources. Natural resources exist on the surface of,
and inside, the earth, including renewal energies such as sunlight, wind and tide. Social resources
in their broad sense include human resources, technology, management and
information.
Population pressure has an impact on Climatic change which is affecting the Environment
Globally. Population growth also has an impact on Water resource management, a big challenge in
most developing nations and yet water is life for Humans, plants, basic to hygiene and our daily
life and as well a source of power. Water is a base for development like agriculture and economic
growth. Water brings about Jobs, education, Environmental sustainability and as well improving
Health.

Sustainable approaches

a) Identify gaps in sustainable natural resources management at all levels and draw mitigation
We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

strategies for development. b) Create stakeholders learning and sharing of environment and
population information to create a platform for change in natural resources utilization. c) Create
enabling Environment for inclusive decision making by all stakeholders and categories of
community members (women, children, disabled, HIV/AIDS affected, the elderly and the youth)
in health and Environment issues. d) Promote communities utilize natural resources and awareness
of the negative effects of poor natural resources management and the positive effects of proper
natural resources utilization. e) Fill gaps and weaknesses in linking population and Environment
that exist where real and potential opportunities can emerge for development.

7.5. Optimum, over and under population

Human has variety of needs and aspirations individually and collectively which may change in
terms of time and space and as these are behaviorally perceived by them. Some of these are basic
to his survival and healthy development of his different faculties while others non basic. Fulfillment
of any of his need and aspiration depends upon exploitation of some resources which is unevenly
distributed around the world.

Size, distribution and population structure within a country must be viewed in relation to its natural
resources and the techniques of production used by its population (Leong and Morgan, 1982).

The concept of optimum population, overpopulation and underpopulation are intimately related
with the resource base (concept is highly subjective and vary as human acquires more and more
knowledge base) and its exploitation pattern.

Some resources are inherently attached, like air and water, with humans while others are acquired
through various interactions and practices with them.

Thus it is our basic knowledge, whether in inherent form or acquired form, to exploit any physical
or biological material for the satisfaction of our any need and aspiration makes something resource
and as knowledge base expands so our resource base swells up.

Thus resource now may not be a resource in the past and anything not a resource now will may
become resource in future. As new and new uses of same resource come forward its importance
multiplies. Further, not only the knowledge but the place of availability and cost involved in its
exploitation also has the capacity to make a resource more important.

Now each and every resource in this nature is recyclable in some way but some may take unusual
We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

very longer time that practically their stocks are considered as limited. In these connotations of
knowledge base and amount of something available in terms of time and space, it is said that a
region or also whole earth has only limited resources to satisfy our needs. After resource the second
most important consideration in our population and resource consideration is the population
themselves. Each individual and each human group probably have different capability and also
attitude to use resources.

A saint needs minimum exploitation of resources while a materialistic person may aspire for many
more times. Thus, firstly, the capacity to exploit different resource is important; secondly, attitude
towards them and finally, it is human numbers since it multiply the human needs. Further, the
structure or composition of population is also important as it is usually the adult which are actively
involved in resource utilization. As the proportion of different age and sex group changes, the same
human number may have markedly changed pattern of needs aspirations as well as their capacity
to utilize resources.

Further, a large population but technologically poor may not have that much capacity to bring stress
on resources than a small but technically very advance population. An attitude is also a matter of
concern since technologically advance population may not necessarily have a materialistic and
selfish outlook of life. Unfortunately, technically advance world with about a quarter of world
population has put much stress on all resources by consuming roughly more than three fourth of all
consumable resources in the world annually leaving behind three fourth of world population
dependent only on less than a quarter of resources.

There are various considerations to take into account. An important aspect in our consideration is
the area of our interest whether we are considering different regions separately, different nations
separately or whole world together. In these regard, based on our consideration of different space
the human number; its technological capabilities; its attitude towards resource exploitation;
number, quantity and quality of physical as well as biological resources, all changes. Next
important point of consideration in this regard is the concept of sustainability i.e. at least similar
opportunities should always remain with all human generations to come as we are enjoying.

In population-resource relation, we need to consider the complex as well as dynamic linkages of

We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

capability opportunity-propensity matrix of different human groups and their individual members
separately, inhabiting presently and also will inhabit in future in different regions of the world.
Finally, optimum population is an economic concept which believes in the maximization of
marginal output. It is the total number of human beings with any given state of resource base so
that output per man will be maximum or is regarded as a state of equilibrium between population
and the resource available with them so that every individual should enjoy highest possible life
style.

Addition of more and more people will not disturb this state of equilibrium as long as new resources
are keep adding and per head output keeps its pace. If resource base will become static and
population increases considerably or if population will remain nearly stable but somehow our
resource base erodes so that our per head output will fall then equilibrium of population resource
become disturbed. If an equilibrium stage between population and resource base has been
established, then further higher material gains are possible through the addition of better technology
only.

Now suppose a stage of development in population resource relationship when technology and
resources are there but due to lack of adequate hands they are not being efficiently exploited for
the betterment of the society. In this stage of population development the living standard of the
population will be lower than the maximum potential. This is the stage of under-population.

If population continued to expand slowly a time will reach when total output keep increasing but
per capita output started diminishing or law of diminishing return started working in the region.
The stage of population expansion beyond which the law of diminishing return started working or
marginal output started decreasing is the stage of optimum population.

Beyond optimum population, if population further expand then total output may increase but it will
have negative impact on their living standard as less and less per head resource are available. This
is the condition or stage of overpopulation with respect to the resource base of the region.

Here it must be noted that above all concepts have the concept of sustainable development as
inherent to them.

We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle
to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

Due to variation in distribution of population, their composition, technological attainments and

resource base and also a very complex pattern of globalization, optimum population in relation to
resource base are rarely found.

Thus most of regions either suffer from under-population, like Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Zaire,
Asiatic Russia, etc. or overpopulation, like India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, etc.

Problems of Under-population

1. Distribution of Population

Most of under-populated regions of the world witness highly uneven population distribution in
favor of few large urban cities. As a result of it there exist marked differences in resource
exploitation and level of various kinds of infrastructure and opportunities in few big urban centers
and countryside.

Providing all modern facilities in small town and countryside become a very costly affair where
population are limited and immigration may also not successful in addressing this problem as most
of them like to go to big cities only.

We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite
environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a
grave obstacle to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

2. Lopsided Resources and Industrial Development

In such regions resources are usually not fully utilized and more attention was given
to those resource development which gives quick and easy profit. Thus the state of
agriculture is usually neglected in preference to extraction of minerals where more
hands, less profit, slow growth is expected.
Such regions have not only shortage of labour but also of skilled labour. Their
domestic market is small and export is highly competitive and unreliable too. All
these also resulted into poor industrial development.

3. Loneliness

Population residing in countryside are few and feel marginalized as every aspect of
development they receive are filtered by few big cities with a considerable time lag
and so they have a sense of perpetual lonliness.

4. Difficult Geo-environment

The historical reason why these areas remain under populated will reveal in most
of the cases that the geo-environment of these areas are relatively difficult.
Application of same level of inputs may give here relatively lower output at least
in the beginning. As capitals with these regions are usually limited so domestic
investment become difficult. Foreign aid and investment may have many
undesirable conditionality attached with them.

Problems of Overpopulation

1. High Population Growth

Population with a large base expands very rapidly even if growth rate are low.
Unfortunately most of these overpopulation areas also have high growth rate of
population.

2. Poverty and Unemployment

Due to excessive pressure on resource base and often limited development of these
resources resulted into low level of employment opportunities. So in such areas
various forms of unemployment are very common. This has resulted into chronic
poverty problems in these

We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite
growth in a finite environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a
grave obstacle to any attempt to organize peace on this planet. ~ Albert Einstein

regions. This has also resulted into other social problems like high malnutrition,
high child mortality, etc.

3. Low Capital Formation

Due to low earning and high dependent population in such areas the rate of capital
formation and thereby fresh investment, both are usually very low. It restricts efficient
resource utilization and a vicious circle of low development established in such areas.

4. Policy Related Confusion

In such areas policy related confusion also prevails as which production method to
adopt, should development be inward oriented or outward oriented, agriculture should
be preferred over industry or not, etc. Capital intensive production is cost cutting but at
the same time shrink employment opportunity. Labour intensive industries gives more
jobs but cost of production rises and competitiveness of product decreases.

Low Social Overhead Capital formation

Due to limited resource and very high population the state of most of social overhead
capital are poor and as a result the quality of labour, working environment and
entrepreneur, all are usually of substandard level.

7.6. Summery
Population policy is a deliberately constructed or modified institutional arrangements
and/or specific programs through which governments influence, directly or indirectly,
demographic change. Generally, there are two population policies i.e. Anti-natalist
population policy and Pro- natalist population policy. The first one is related to reduce
birth rates; whereas pronatalist population policy is related with more births and faster
population growth, have been pursued in times and places where national well-being
has been equated with population size. Moreover, there are three factors that affect for
the implementation of population policy includes: political factor, social factor and
economic factor.

There is significant interaction and interdependence between population, environment

and development. The total number of people living in a particular place at a particular
time is referred to as population whereas environment denotes the sum total of physical
and biological factors that affect the survival, growth, development and reproduction of
an organism. This interaction is greatly influenced by population density with respect to
the resource capacity in a given environment.

We have a finite environment—the planet. Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite
growth in a finite environment is either a madman or an economist. ~ David Attenborough