Edgar M. Hoover

Population Growth and Economic Development

The analysis of population growth in connection with economic development can be divided into at least three aspects: first, the determinants and consequences of the changing age distribution; second, the determinants and consequences of the changing size of the population; and third, the determinants and consequences of the changing quality of the population. The list is roughly in the order of difficulty of analysis. While it is far from easy to assess any of these elements of the problem, it is more difficult to do so with respect to the changing size of the population, and it is most difficult of all to analyze the quality aspect. The book under review by Coale and Hoover deals mostly with the consequences of the changing age distribution that is likely to ensue in the course of the economic development of a country--particularly, the economic development of India. The authors do attempt to say something about all of the aspects of population growth, but it is quite clear that their main and most definite results are in connection with potential age distributions and their con-The analysis of population growth in connection with economic development can be divided into at least three aspects: first, the determinants and consequences of the changing age distribution; second, the determinants and consequences of the changing size of the population; and third, the determinants and consequences of the changing quality of the population. The list is roughly in the order of difficulty of analysis. While it is far from easy to assess any of these elements of the problem, it is more difficult to do so with respect to the changing size of the population, and it is most difficult of all to analyze the quality aspect. The book under review by Coale and Hoover deals mostly with the consequences of the changing age distribution that is likely to ensue in the course of the economic development of a country--particularly, the economic development of India. The authors do attempt to say something about all of the aspects of population growth, but it is quite clear that their main and most definite results are in connection with potential age distributions and their con-