Population and development planning in selected Asian countries

Abstract

Since demographic development and the overall development of nations are interdependent, demographic planning has become a key element of development planning in most developing countries. However the extent to which demographic planning is integrated into development planning varies between countries. This study examines the nature of demographic planning in the development planning in Burma, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand. The different demographic conditions in these countries are reflected in their approaches to demographic planning. Burma, with a relatively small population, has given less emphasis to demographic factors in its economic planning than the other three countries. Chapter I introduces the different approaches to population and development in different societies and economic systems. Chapter II presents the basic demographic data included in most Development Plans. Population problems faced by the different countries are described in Chapter III. The various population policies adopted in each of the countries in their struggle for development are discussed in Chapter IV and V. Finally, in the last Chapter, the study discusses the institutional context of planning and summarises the integration of demographic planning in overall planning in each country. The actual demographic situation in each country and its relationship to national development are continuously changing. The study identified a range of perspectives on fertility: ranging from that of Burma with a firm non-intervention policy, to overpopulated and strictly anti-natalist Bangladesh, and Thailand, with generally preventive measures, and Malaysia with a currently ambigious position. There is also variety in spatial distribution; Burma's population distribution has been strongly affected by non-demographic measures although these were not directly instituted for demographic objectives; Bangladesh is at an embryonic stage in implementing distribution policy because it is more concerned with population growth; Thailand in future may concentrate more on distribution than on population growth, where it has been relatively successful, while Malaysia may achieve its desired distribution mainly due to its economic development rather than to specific demographic policies. Show more