POVERTY

Many aspects are being cited as causes of poverty which has become a social destabilizing factor worldwide. However, the relationship between poverty and population is quite clear. Assuming that the carrying capacity of the Earth remains constant, the amount of non-renewable resources and fresh water available to a person decreases for each person added to the population. This is also the case for the stretching of government social services such as health and welfare, and employment. More people means less for each person when the country is not developed with little economic progress. From a Malthusian point of view, population control will be forced upon mankind by widespread famine when food production cannot align with population increase, as is the case in some of the Least Developed Countries.

Poverty is currently being addressed on an international scale with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that set a timeline to reduce 8 aspects of poverty within 15 years. Population is intricately linked with poverty and is a key contributor to reducing the rate of poverty in developing countries. However, the role of population and sustainable growth is being overlooked in the current international emphasis on eradicating poverty. No one would deny the urgency of poverty eradication when a third of the world's population is living on less than 2 dollars a day. However, a big question remains as to whether we can eliminate poverty to the degree that everyone will have the same level of affluence that is enjoyed by people in the developed world. With the pressing environmental problems and resource constraints such as fresh water and fossil fuels, higher consumption that comes with affluence cannot be sustained. With the constraints on the world's resources in mind the only foreseeable solution is a major transfer of affluence from the developed world to the poor, which is not likely. This, in turn, must be combined with a stabilisation of the world's population. Until the population of the Earth has slowed down and stabilised, a major reduction in the number of poor is impossible considering that any economic progress that takes place will be made ineffective by the increase in population. If population growth continues even at moderate levels, the eradication of poverty may not be feasible.

Market on the road, Uganda, 2007

Women, Poverty and Population

The relationship between population and poverty is clearly reflected in the cycle of development, female education and fertility. With social development that leads to the improvement of women's status in society, an increase in female education and a higher literacy rate, the fertility rate will inevitably fall. The fall in the number of births will further propel the economy by reducing the drain on societal resources and impact on the environment.

Uganda, 2007