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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Population growth and the development problems of Africa: origins and implied solutions |
Author: | Kamuzora, C. Lwechungura |
Year: | 1986 |
Periodical: | Utafiti |
Volume: | 8 |
Issue: | 1 |
Pages: | 1-12 |
Language: | English |
Notes: | biblio. refs. |
Geographic terms: | Africa Tanzania |
Subjects: | population growth overpopulation employment economic development demography population Economic and social development |
External link: | https://d.lib.msu.edu/utafiti/168/OBJ/download |
Abstract: | Africa's population problem is essentially that of an imbalance between population and resources. Drawing on work by others, particularly on Tanzania, the author argues that the core of the problem is the destruction of the ecological, hence economic base, and the subsequent stagnation of technology at a labour intensive level, caused by factors connected with the overexploitation of both human and other resources as production is extended from producing for subsistence to producing for exchange or commercial purposes. In the ensuing context of economic stagnation, the persistence of high fertility levels is a response to the high and increasing labour demand of the resulting diminishing returns to labour in order to produce a constant level of output, mainly subsistence. The processes that brought about the destruction and protracted stagnation of the economy simultaneously intensified the sexual division of labour. The increased labour burden for women and the creation of women's dependence on men further contribute to the persistence of high fertility. A solution to the population problem lies in the introduction of less labour intensive technology. Improvements in technology would enhance total output and raise the standard of living. Such technology would erode the high value of children by demanding less labour and by raising the cost of children as a result of the modern education needed to master the new technology. Notes, ref. |