Population, Poverty, and Sustainable Development : A Review of the Evidence

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dc.creatorDas Gupta, Monica
dc.creatorBongaarts, John
dc.creatorCleland, John
dc.date2012-03-19T18:03:17Z
dc.date2012-03-19T18:03:17Z
dc.date2011-06-01
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-01T01:00:03Z
dc.descriptionThere is a very large but scattered literature debating the economic implications of high fertility. This paper reviews the literature on three themes: (a) Does high fertility affect low-income countries' prospects for economic growth and poverty reduction? (b) Does population growth exacerbate pressure on natural resources? and (c) Are family planning programs effective at lowering fertility, and should they be publicly funded? The literature shows broad consensus that while policy and institutional settings are key in shaping the prospects of economic growth and poverty reduction, the rate of population growth also matters. Recent studies find that low dependency ratios (as fertility declines) create an opportunity for increasing productivity, savings and investment in future growth. They find that lower fertility is associated with better child health and schooling, and better health and greater labor-force participation for women. They also indicate that rapid population growth can constrain economic growth, especially in low-income countries with poor policy environments. Population growth also exacerbates pressure on environmental common property resources. Studies highlight the deep challenges to aligning divergent interests for managing these resources. However, part of the pressure on these resources can be mitigated by reducing the rate of population growth. Although family planning programs are only one policy lever to help reduce fertility, studies find them effective. Such programs might help especially in the Sub-Saharan African region, where high fertility and institutional constraints on economic growth combine to slow rises in living standards.
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dc.formattext/plain
dc.identifierhttp://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20110630131122
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/3484
dc.identifier10.1596/1813-9450-5719
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/414064
dc.languageEnglish
dc.relationPolicy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5719
dc.rightsCC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rightshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.rightsWorld Bank
dc.subjectCHILD HEALTH
dc.subjectECONOMIC GROWTH
dc.subjectFAMILY PLANNING
dc.subjectHIGH FERTILITY
dc.subjectNATURAL RESOURCES
dc.subjectLIVING STANDARDS
dc.subjectPOPULATION GROWTH
dc.subjectPOVERTY REDUCTION
dc.subjectSCHOOLING
dc.subjectWOMEN'S HEALTH
dc.subjectWORKING WOMEN
dc.titlePopulation, Poverty, and Sustainable Development : A Review of the Evidence

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