In 1950 the world population was 2.5 billion; fifty years later there are over 6 billion people. The demographic of this explosion has essentially occurred in the developing areas of the world. The key to understanding many contemporary development problems that have arisen from this rapid growth is in understanding the relationships between population and the economy. This book offers an analysis of such relationships, encompassing a review of the major positions in the academic debate. Nadia Cuffaro begins with the Malthus and Solowth growth models, examining the implications for population and compares them to the theoretical background
of alternative positions, including new institutional economics. Part two considers population growth in relation to agriculture and focuses on technical progress and institutional adjustments. It is argued that simple functionalism leads to a misrepresentation of the problems and that there are many possible adjustment failures linked to the research system, property rights on land and poverty that greatly effect the environmental resource base. Finally the author looks to the future to consider biotechnology and the challenges for world agriculture. Population, Economic Growth and Agriculture in Less Developed Countries will serve as a useful introduction and reference tool for students, academics and all with an interest in the population debate and economics.
By:
Nadia Cuffaro Imprint: Routledge Country of Publication: United Kingdom Volume: 23 Dimensions:
Height: 216mm,
Width: 138mm,
Spine: 15mm
Weight: 340g ISBN:9780415202909 ISBN 10: 0415202906 Series:Routledge Studies in Development Economics Pages: 188 Publication Date:11 October 2001 Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format:Hardback Publisher's Status: Active
1. Introduction Part I: Population and Economic Growth 2. Population Pessimism 3. 'Revisionism': Theoretical Background Part II: Population Growth and Agriculture 4. Endogenous Technical Progress in Agriculture 5. The Response of Institutions 6. Adjustment Failures 7. Environmental Implications 8. Future Challenges for World Agriculture Conclusions
Cuffaro Nadia is a Researcher at the University of Cassino, Italy. She has also worked as Economist at the United Nations Secretariat, New York and as a Consultant for the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Rome.