Population II – Over, Under, & Optimum Population SS1 Economics Lesson Note

UNDER POPULATION

Underpopulation may be defined as the type of population that is less than the available resources of a country.

Underpopulation exists if the people within the country are too few to supply enough labor to tap the available resources fully given the existing level of technical knowledge.

In such a situation the resources of the country will not be efficiently utilized as a result of the small size of the population.  The standard of living will fall.

CONSEQUENCES OF UNDERPOPULATION

1. The supply of labor will be relatively low
2. The size of the market will be relatively small
3. The level of production will be low
4. The level of income per capita and the standard of living will be low
5. The low productive capacity will mean that the size of exports will decrease
6. Savings and investments will be low.

CAUSES OF UNDERPOPULATION

1. A decrease in birth rate
2. An increase in death rate
3. High level of emigration

OPTIMUM POPULATION

The word optimum means best.

Optimum population refers to the best size of the population. It is that size of the population which given the available natural resources, technical knowledge, capital and organization, will yield the highest output per head.

There will be a high standard of living since the size of the population is adequate to tap the available resources fully.

WHY OPTIMUM POPULATION IS THE BEST POPULATION

1. The optimum population is neither too large nor too small but equal to the available resources in the country.
2. It yields maximum returns per head
3. Optimum population is the type of population that is not difficult to control or manage
4. The highest standard of living is attained in a country that has an optimum population
5. Optimum population does not pose a problem to a country’s economy.

OVERPOPULATION

Overpopulation is defined as a situation where a country has more people than physical and human resources can support with adequate living standards. In other words, overpopulation refers to a situation where the population exceeds the available resources of the country. As a result of overpopulation competition for the available resources and due to the relative shortage of resources, there will be a general fall in the standard of living of the people.

CONSEQUENCES OF OVERPOPULATION

1. There will be congestion on land and pressure on other resources, including social services.
2. There will be a fall in per capita income
3. The demand for goods and services will be relatively higher than what is available
4. There will be increased imports and a greater balance of payment problems 
5. There will be a high level of unemployment and under-employment
6. There will be a high level of government spending
7. There may be a high dependency ratio

CONTROL OF OVERPOPULATION

1. Family planning
2. Discouragement of early marriage
3. Encouragement of monogamy
4. Provision of gain full employment for women
5. Encouragement of emigration