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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat 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.
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