Is population a retarding or accelerating factor in development?

Question

On a global basis?

Answer 1

It depends. Population should be fully employed and employable. Also there should be some slack so that the job market isn't too tight. Population pyramid should have a healthy profile and should replenish the attrition rate of the workforce.

See the contrast of China & India. With one-child norm strictly implemented, the economy's demand on job market threatens to be unfulfilling. India was harangued to keep its population under control and to take a leaf out of China's experience. But today the economic momentum is kept up by the comfortable demographic profile that replenishes the attrition in job market with enough slack. With increased job availability the bottom rung unemployed too are seeing better opprtunities.