IS POPULATION GROWTH A DRAG ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?
Julian L. Simon
http://www.juliansimon.org/writings/...es/CATONEW.txt
This paper makes two points. First, there is persuasive explanation for why some countries grow faster than others, and the explanation has nothing to do with population growth. This factor leaves little room for population growth to be the cause of slow growth. Second, there is persuasive direct statistical evidence that population growth is not associated negatively with economic development in the short or intermediate run, and may well be a positive influence in the long run. A corollary is that a more dense population does not hamper population growth.
In the very short run, additional people are an added burden. But under conditions of freedom, population growth poses less of a problem in the short run, and brings many more benefits in the long run, than under conditions of government control.