The demographic dividend: a new perspective on the economic consequences of population change

There is a long-standing debate on how population growth affects national economies. The authors, led by Harvard economist David Bloom, examine the history of this debate and synthesize current research on the topic. They conclude that population age structure, more than size or growth per se, affects economic development, and that reducing high fertility can create opportunities for economic growth if the right kinds of educational, health, and labor-market policies are in place