Micro and Macro Determinants of Population Growth

<p>INTRODUCTION All economic activities are centered on man; hence population is the principal factor affecting the economic development of any comitry. Adam Smith considered man as a form of capital. Prof Marshal also thought of man as center of all economic activities. He said that the puipose of economics is to be related to the study of man in ordinary business of life. Thus all human behaviours are influenced by economics (Ghosh 1993). T.W. Schultz Gary Becker H.L Leibenstein Colin Clark Hai'binson A.G.B. Fisher - all these economists have explained that human behaviours are amenable to economics. Ghosh (1993) notes The growth of population affects directly or indirectly every aspect of social and economic life. Population growth itself is conditioned by economic factors. Further he points out The rate of growth of population affects the national income per capita income investment saving and standard of living. Both quantitative and qualitative changes in population growth and himian resources are the decisive factors of economic development. Changes in GNP per capita GNP welfare and social indicators of development are also directly and indirectly connected with quality and size of population. Hence population growth is both cause and result of economic development. The role-played by these factors in the economic development of developed </p>