Tshwane University of Technology

ECON ALE30BT

Chapter 6

Population Growth and Economic Development: Causes, Consequences, and Controversies

1)Explain what is meant by “investment in children,” describing the goals and methods of the parents.

2. Explain carefully the opportunity costs of a mother’s time, what may lead these to change over time, and what effects these changes have on family decisions.

3. Are developing countries experiencing a demographic transition much like the one developed Countries did at their earlier stages of economic development or are there important differences?
4. Is there evidence that an increase in per capita income stimulates population growth?
5. Why might improvements in children’s public health care services lower fertility?

6.  Explain the reasons for the hidden momentum of population growth and state its implication for population levels.

7. What is meant by the demographic transition? What are the differences in the demographic transition between the current developed economies and developing countries?
8. What are some of the differences between the population policies of China and India? What factors may have contributed to their success or failure?