ECON

Marbella, Gracelyn T.
BSA 2-1
CHAPTER 6
1. Population growth in developing nations has proceeded at unprecedented rates

over the past few decades. Compare and contrast the present rate of population
growth in less developed countries with that of the modern developed nations
during their early growth years. What has been the major factor contributing to
rapid developing country population growth since the Second World War? Explain
your answer.
Based on the reports of population, reference bureau the population has grown
tremendously after 1950 especially in developing nations both as a percentage of total
and in terms of absolute numbers. It grew at an annual rate of 20 per million. One of the
reasons for more rapid increase of population in developing nations than developed
nations are the cultural, social and religious factors in developing nations that lead to high
birth rates. Example of this is some nations like Afghanistan and other Islamic nations are
against birth control measures or abortions that lead to high growth rate of population in
these nations. Moreover, it is also caused by the death rates that have also become lower
in the developing nations due to adoption of modern medical treatment techniques, clean
drinking water facilities, better health services and better standard of living of people; and
the infant mortality rate in developing nations is quite higher because lack of proper
medical facilities, lack of maternal education, preference for a baby boy over baby girl
and such.
3. Explain the notion of the hidden momentum of population growth. Why is this
an important concept for projecting future population trends in different
developing nations?
The phenomenon whereby population continues to increase even after a fall in

birth rates because the large existing youthful population expands the population’s base
of potential parents. There are two basic reasons why it is important for projecting future
population trends in different developing nations. First, high birth rates cannot be altered
substantially overnight. The social, economic, and institutional forces that have influenced
fertility rates over the course of centuries do not simply evaporate at the urging of national
leaders. Consequently, even if developing countries assign top priority to the limitation of
population growth, it will still take many years to lower national fertility to desired levels.
The second is because it relates to the age structure of many developing countries’
populations.
5. How does the microeconomic theory of fertility relate to the theory of consumer
choice? Do you think that economic incentives and disincentives influence family
size decisions? Explain your answer, giving some specific examples of such
incentives and disincentives.
The theory of consumer choice links preferences for goods and services with the
consumption expenditures while the theory of fertility relates to the theory of consumer
choice in a way that the main assumption of theory of fertility is that children are like
durable goods from which parents consume flow of services. In short, parents compare
the utility from children with other goods and then choose the best option which gives
more utility just like theory of consumer choice. I think that economic incentives and
disincentives influence family size decisions since it may be a factor to be considered first
by those who are planning to have children. Some examples of economic incentives are
the parents don’t have to give any payments for having children, given more priority in
jobs, housing, education for small family, and more opportunities. While some of its
disincentives are higher tax to be imposed for huge family and penalties and fine for
having more than the maximum number of children.
7. List and briefly describe the principal causes of high population growth in
developing countries and the major consequences.
One of the principal causes of high population growth in developing countries is

the excess of birth rates over death rates since the population in the developing nations
is increasing due to more births as more children are demanded by the families for their
economic security. The death rates in comparison have fallen down due to availability of
modern vaccinations, public health facilities, clean drinking water, improved nutrition, and
public education. The other one is the demand for children in where the economic theory
of fertility assumes that the household demand for children is determined by family
preferences for a certain number of surviving children, by the price or “opportunity cost”
of rearing these children, and by levels of family income.
Its major consequences include economic growth where rapid population growth
lowers per capita income growth in most developing countries, especially those that are
already poor, dependent on agriculture, and experiencing pressures on land; poverty
and inequality since it fall most heavily on the poor because they are the ones who are
made landless, suffer first from cuts in government health and education programs, and
bear the brunt of environmental damage; education where population growth causes
educational expenditures to be spread more thinly, lowering quality for the sake of
quantity; health where high fertility harms the health of mothers and children; food where
a large fraction of developing country food requirements are the result of population
increases; environment since it contributes to environmental degradation; and
international migration where observers consider the increase in international
migration, both legal and illegal.
9. Outline and comment briefly on some of the arguments against the idea that
population growth is a serious problem in developing nations.
 The problem is not population growth but other issues.

These other issues include the Underdevelopment, World Resource Depletion and
Environmental Destruction, Population Distribution, and Subordination of Women.
I disagree to this one since some of these issues are the results of having a huge
population in developing nations.
 Population growth is a false issue deliberately created by
dominant rich country agencies and institutions to keep developing countries
in their dependent condition. I also disagree to this one since what the rich
countries suggested is true that a smaller number of people may be a factor in
attaining development.
 For many developing countries and regions, population growth is
in fact desirable. I disagree to this one since sometimes, there are too much
demand that will only lead to shortages and inflation which will make it harder for
the poor people to provide their needs for their everyday lives.
11. Outline and comment briefly on the various policy options available to
developing countries’ governments in their attempt to modify or limit the rate of
population growth.
First, they can try to persuade people to have smaller families through the media
and the educational process, both formal (school system) and informal (adult education).
I agree to this policy since it will raise the awareness of all or the majority when it comes
to building their own family.
Second, they can enhance family-planning programs to provide health and

contraceptive services to encourage the desired behavior. I think it can be helpful to
prevent the continuous population growth in a certain country.
Third, they can deliberately manipulate economic incentives and disincentives for
having children. I don’t think that this one is necessary since it will only apply for the poor
ones since rich people would not be affected by this as they have enough money and
they won’t be needing these incentives and they can handle having the disincentives.
Fourth, governments can attempt to coerce people into having smaller families
through the power of state legislation and penalties. I think that it the government does
not have the rights to force people to do what they have to do especially to those who are
in democratic countries.
Finally, no policy measures will be successful in controlling fertility unless efforts

are made to raise the social and economic status of women and hence create conditions
favorable to delayed marriage and lower marital fertility. I do not support this one since it
is like discrimination women with more than two children and I see inequality in this policy.
13. What aspects of population policy alternatives— including their strengths and
weaknesses—are illustrated by the cases of China and India?
In China, Chinese government adopted a policy of one child per family. Social and
political pressures to limit family size to one child included requiring women to appeal to
the neighborhood committee or council for formal permission to become pregnant.
Although first births were routinely approved, second births were usually approved only if
the first child had a serious birth defect or if the woman had remarried. Economic
incentives included giving priority to one-child families in housing, medical care, and
education. Mothers of two or more children were often denied promotions, and steep
fines, sometimes in excess of 10 times China’s per capita income, were levied for second
and third children. Although a growing number of exceptions have been introduced. The
apparent success of China’s tough fertility policies has led some observers to see
advantages of dictatorship rather than democracy in spurring development. By 2050,
China will have almost twice as many people above age 50 as below age 20. In addition,
while fertility has fallen, preference for boys over girls has actually intensified. Many
Chinese families seem to feel that if they are to have only one child, it should be a boy,
to carry on the family name and help support the parents in their old age.
India became the first country to implement a national family-planning program in

1949 which become more widely practiced. Some of the acceptance of limits on family
size reflected rising income among the close to 250 million middle-class Indians and
somewhat improved conditions among a significant fraction of the poor. Some of it
reflected modest moves back to policy incentives to encourage smaller families. There
have been variations from state to state. In Madhya Pradesh, individuals who had a third
or subsequent child after January 2001 were banned from running for election to village
council posts, spurring considerable controversy. In 2004, an uproar over reported higher
fertility among Muslims than among Hindus—reports that turned out to be greatly
exaggerated—revealed the continuing political sensitivity of the issue.

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Marbella, Gracelyn T.

1. Population growth in developing nations has proceeded at unprecedented rates

The phenomenon whereby population continues to increase even after a fall in

One of the principal causes of high population growth in developing countries is

 The problem is not population growth but other issues.

Second, they can enhance family-planning programs to provide health and

Finally, no policy measures will be successful in controlling fertility unless efforts

India became the first country to implement a national family-planning program in

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