 Journalist Martin Wolf of the Financial Times has called population "the most important issue confronting humanity in this century." Important new books on the future of development have devoted significant attention to it. Debates about population policy continue to stir and columnists and academics argue about what lies ahead if global population challenges are ignored. Population—the study of people using the tool of demography—is now appearing across development discourse, with policy implications that reach far beyond family planning and reproductive health.
 Population IS undeniably important—but how, for whom, and with what consequences is a complex story. Two things are certain:
- Population issues in the 21st century are different from those in the last century.
- With the development world midway through an uncertain effort to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, population issues will be central to the success or failure of six of the eight goals.
CGD is launching an initiative to examine the role of population in development that, through a series of lectures, will recast the current development agenda to include the broad implications of demographic change.
View the series here.
External Resources
View a series of lectures on The Population Question in Development- the need for a debate in the Netherlands co organized by The World Population Foundation and the Society of International Development (SID, Netherlands Chapter)
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As part of the "Demographics and Development in the 21st Century" series, CGD Senior Fellow David Wheeler will summarize the cross-country research he conducted with Dan Hammer on the economics of population policy for carbon emissions reduction. Wheeler includes assessments of the effects of family planning and female education on birth rates. Their global results indicate that carbon mitigation as a result of population policy has costs comparable to those of the least costly clean technology options. They also find that family planning and female education have very different carbon abatement economics across countries, so cost-effective policy may require careful targeting. UN Foundation's Timothy Wirth will offer comments.
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Brain drain has long been seen in developing countries as an undesirable consequence of migration. This concern is amplified by the recent increase in skilled emigration as some developed countries orient their immigration policies to embrace higher-skilled workers. Economic theory suggests a range of possible benefits and costs to sending countries from skilled emigration, but the evidence base is very limited. David McKenzie presents unique survey work conducted with John Gibson tracking worldwide the best and brightest academic performers from three Pacific countries. McKenzie's presentation draws on the Tonga experience, describing the impact of skilled migration on the country, including fiscal and demographic implications.
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Economists, demographers and other social scientists have long debated the relationship between demographic change and economic outcomes. In recent years, general agreement has emerged to the effect that improving economic conditions for individuals generally lead to lower birth rates. But there is much less agreement about the proposition that lower birth rates contribute to economic development and help individuals and families to escape from poverty. The paper examines recent evidence on this aspect of the debate, concludes that the burden of evidence now increasingly supports a positive conclusion, examines recent trends in demographic change and economic development, and argues that the countries representing the last development frontier, those of sub-Saharan Africa, would be well advised to incorporate policies and programs to reduce high fertility in their economic development strategies.
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Countries have tough choices to make over investing in different types of infrastructure. Do schools come first? What about irrigation and other agricultural needs so that populations can be fed? And they can't ignore the importance of roads, bridges, and other transportation in facilitating trade and markets for economic growth. Then there's energy, communication, and more. There will always be competing and urgent needs for both public and private infrastructure, and the age and growth rate of the population helps determine the priorities of those needs. This lecture examines how demographic variables affect the need for different infrastructure types, including urban, spatially connective, and regional infrastructure, and how well countries use demographic knowledge to influence their infrastructure investments. Sobering conclusions about the likelihood of meeting those needs are presented.
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In this video, Johns Hopkins University senior adjunct professor Peter Heller and Center for Global Development senior fellow Vijaya Ramachandran give a lecture on the importance of infrastructure in developing countries.
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In this video, Dr. Joel E. Cohen, renowned demographer and a student of global demographic trends for nearly 40 years, launched CGD population series with an overview of global demographic trends.
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Beginning in September 2008, the Center for Global Development is sponsoring a new look at "Demographics and Development in the 21st Century." The role of demographics promises to be fundamental in shaping the coming world. In this series, leading scholars explore how demographic changes may affect prospects for global development. Dr. Joel E. Cohen, renowned demographer and a student of global demographic trends for nearly 40 years, will launch the series with an overview of global demographic trends. Cohen's talk will set the stage for the later sessions that will explore specific demographic shifts now underway and how they may affect development-related outcomes, including poverty reduction, climate change and the financial health of emerging market economies.
-
Beginning in September 2008, the Center for Global Development is sponsoring a new look at "Demographics and Development in the 21st Century." The role of demographics promises to be fundamental in shaping the coming world. In this series, leading scholars explore how demographic changes may affect prospects for global development.
-
Beginning in September 2008, the Center for Global Development is sponsoring a new look at "Demographics and Development in the 21st Century." The role of demographics promises to be fundamental in shaping the coming world. In this series, leading scholars explore how demographic changes may affect prospects for global development.
-
In this video, Johns Hopkins University senior adjunct professor Peter Heller and Center for Global Development senior fellow Vijaya Ramachandran give a lecture on the importance of infrastructure in developing countries.
-
As part of the "Demographics and Development in the 21st Century" series, CGD Senior Fellow David Wheeler will summarize the cross-country research he conducted with Dan Hammer on the economics of population policy for carbon emissions reduction. Wheeler includes assessments of the effects of family planning and female education on birth rates. Their global results indicate that carbon mitigation as a result of population policy has costs comparable to those of the least costly clean technology options. They also find that family planning and female education have very different carbon abatement economics across countries, so cost-effective policy may require careful targeting. UN Foundation's Timothy Wirth will offer comments.
-
Beginning in September 2008, the Center for Global Development is sponsoring a new look at "Demographics and Development in the 21st Century." The role of demographics promises to be fundamental in shaping the coming world. In this series, leading scholars explore how demographic changes may affect prospects for global development. Dr. Joel E. Cohen, renowned demographer and a student of global demographic trends for nearly 40 years, will launch the series with an overview of global demographic trends. Cohen's talk will set the stage for the later sessions that will explore specific demographic shifts now underway and how they may affect development-related outcomes, including poverty reduction, climate change and the financial health of emerging market economies.
-
Brain drain has long been seen in developing countries as an undesirable consequence of migration. This concern is amplified by the recent increase in skilled emigration as some developed countries orient their immigration policies to embrace higher-skilled workers. Economic theory suggests a range of possible benefits and costs to sending countries from skilled emigration, but the evidence base is very limited. David McKenzie presents unique survey work conducted with John Gibson tracking worldwide the best and brightest academic performers from three Pacific countries. McKenzie's presentation draws on the Tonga experience, describing the impact of skilled migration on the country, including fiscal and demographic implications.
-
In this video, Dr. Joel E. Cohen, renowned demographer and a student of global demographic trends for nearly 40 years, launched CGD population series with an overview of global demographic trends.
-
Economists, demographers and other social scientists have long debated the relationship between demographic change and economic outcomes. In recent years, general agreement has emerged to the effect that improving economic conditions for individuals generally lead to lower birth rates. But there is much less agreement about the proposition that lower birth rates contribute to economic development and help individuals and families to escape from poverty. The paper examines recent evidence on this aspect of the debate, concludes that the burden of evidence now increasingly supports a positive conclusion, examines recent trends in demographic change and economic development, and argues that the countries representing the last development frontier, those of sub-Saharan Africa, would be well advised to incorporate policies and programs to reduce high fertility in their economic development strategies.
-
Countries have tough choices to make over investing in different types of infrastructure. Do schools come first? What about irrigation and other agricultural needs so that populations can be fed? And they can't ignore the importance of roads, bridges, and other transportation in facilitating trade and markets for economic growth. Then there's energy, communication, and more. There will always be competing and urgent needs for both public and private infrastructure, and the age and growth rate of the population helps determine the priorities of those needs. This lecture examines how demographic variables affect the need for different infrastructure types, including urban, spatially connective, and regional infrastructure, and how well countries use demographic knowledge to influence their infrastructure investments. Sobering conclusions about the likelihood of meeting those needs are presented.
-
Beginning in September 2008, the Center for Global Development is sponsoring a new look at "Demographics and Development in the 21st Century."
In this podcast, CGD deputy director, global health program Rachel Nugent describes the new discussion series and why demographic studies is important for developing countries
There are no publications related to this initiative.
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The Human Footprint on Climate
- Jun 23, 2009
As part of the "Demographics and Development in the 21st Century" series, CGD Senior Fellow David Wheeler will summarize the cross-country research he conducted with Dan Hammer on the economics of population policy for carbon emissions reduction. Wheeler includes assessments of the effects of family planning and female education on birth rates. Their global results indicate that carbon mitigation as a result of population policy has costs comparable to those of the least costly clean technology options. They also find that family planning and female education have very different carbon abatement economics across countries, so cost-effective policy may require careful targeting. UN Foundation's Timothy Wirth will offer comments.
-
Brain Drain or Gain: Examining International Migration
- May 6, 2009
Brain drain has long been seen in developing countries as an undesirable consequence of migration. This concern is amplified by the recent increase in skilled emigration as some developed countries orient their immigration policies to embrace higher-skilled workers. Economic theory suggests a range of possible benefits and costs to sending countries from skilled emigration, but the evidence base is very limited. David McKenzie presents unique survey work conducted with John Gibson tracking worldwide the best and brightest academic performers from three Pacific countries. McKenzie's presentation draws on the Tonga experience, describing the impact of skilled migration on the country, including fiscal and demographic implications.
-
Population, Poverty and Economic Development
- Apr 7, 2009
Economists, demographers and other social scientists have long debated the relationship between demographic change and economic outcomes. In recent years, general agreement has emerged to the effect that improving economic conditions for individuals generally lead to lower birth rates. But there is much less agreement about the proposition that lower birth rates contribute to economic development and help individuals and families to escape from poverty. The paper examines recent evidence on this aspect of the debate, concludes that the burden of evidence now increasingly supports a positive conclusion, examines recent trends in demographic change and economic development, and argues that the countries representing the last development frontier, those of sub-Saharan Africa, would be well advised to incorporate policies and programs to reduce high fertility in their economic development strategies.
-
How Much Do Demographic Factors Influence Infrastructure Demand in Developing Countries?
- Dec 15, 2008
Countries have tough choices to make over investing in different types of infrastructure. Do schools come first? What about irrigation and other agricultural needs so that populations can be fed? And they can't ignore the importance of roads, bridges, and other transportation in facilitating trade and markets for economic growth. Then there's energy, communication, and more. There will always be competing and urgent needs for both public and private infrastructure, and the age and growth rate of the population helps determine the priorities of those needs. This lecture examines how demographic variables affect the need for different infrastructure types, including urban, spatially connective, and regional infrastructure, and how well countries use demographic knowledge to influence their infrastructure investments. Sobering conclusions about the likelihood of meeting those needs are presented.
-
Beyond Population: Everybody Counts in Development
- Sep 23, 2008
Beginning in September 2008, the Center for Global Development is sponsoring a new look at "Demographics and Development in the 21st Century." The role of demographics promises to be fundamental in shaping the coming world. In this series, leading scholars explore how demographic changes may affect prospects for global development. Dr. Joel E. Cohen, renowned demographer and a student of global demographic trends for nearly 40 years, will launch the series with an overview of global demographic trends. Cohen's talk will set the stage for the later sessions that will explore specific demographic shifts now underway and how they may affect development-related outcomes, including poverty reduction, climate change and the financial health of emerging market economies.
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