This chapter focuses on the relationships between population growth and economic development. The chapter opens with a discussion of global demographic trends. Subsequently, it discusses the economic consequences of population growth and demographic change. Malthusian perspectives, argue that population growth is a threat to sustainable development are contrasted with more optimistic assessments which indicate that technological change has the potential to outpace the growth of population.

The second half of the chapter focuses on explanations of why families in developing countries have so many children. These explanations serve as guidelines for the formulation of population policies.