Population Growth : Diversities in Trends and Policies

Abstract

Worldwide concern over population growth has been relaxed somewhat because of the almost definite indication of the decline in population increase, as documented, for example, by the United Nations recently. A most important point that merits attention in this connection is the fact that there are observed diversities in the growth of population and that they are widening rather than narrowing. Diversity is seen between the North and the South; from region to region; and from country to country. Future government policies related to population growth will be more diversified accordingly. On the one hand, the Chinese government efforts to curtail the rate of population increase as quickly as possible represent an example of the most powerful political intervention. A group of other countries such as Korea, Taiwan and Singapore, on the other hand, may divert their attention from the growth aspect of population to its internal structure, such as the aging of the population. Still other countries, especially of Southeast Asia, will continue their efforts for population control, but the policies they adopt would, of necessity, be much milder than the Chinese example. To what extent they can achieve success depends on a variety of factors, but the degree to which sterilization and induced abortion are resorted to is an important determinant. Almost all developed countries have an entirely opposite concern. The decline in the birth rate is a major issue, and it is quite certain that governments will strengthen social security programs specifically designed for the encouragement of childbirths. Whether they will prove highly effective, however, remains questionable. Restrictions on abortion, sterilization and contraception may, under some circumstances, be proposed as a necessity.