The economics of population : an introduction

Abstract

The potentially explosive force of population growth poses questions to which the answers given by scientists of recent decades have often generated more heat than light. In this book we have an economist's approach to the problem. Professor Pitchford discusses the long-run relationships between a country's population and its economic development, exploring ways in which population policy can be directed towards improving economic welfare. Assuming no specialised knowledge of economics, Professor Pitchford guides his reader lucidly through the concepts of production and employment to an important reformulation of the concept of optimum population. With the help of clear diagrams he introduces the various theories of population change and standard models of population processes before returning to optimum population and practical policies for attaining balanced states. Throughout, particular stress is laid on the place in economic theory of both renewable and exhaustible resources. This is a book for students of economics, demography and ecology, for policy makers and for the growing body of people showing intelligent concern for the problems of an increasingly crowded planet. Show more