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LECTURE 8: POPULATION POLICY LEARNING OUTCOMES The student will be able to: Define Population Policy Describe the

policy instruments of government Explain why and how population policies are formulated Distinguish between explicit and implicit population policies Give examples of population policies affecting fertility, mortality and migration

What Is a National Policy? A policy is a set of government statements and actions that are designed to influence the behaviour of the people in order to achieve a desired outcome OR Government actions can be categorized into five broad policy instruments

The Policy Instruments of Government Information Laws and regulations Taxes and price controls Direct spending/investments Research

Illustration of the Application of the Policy Instruments Policy Objective: Reduce HIV/AIDS transmission 1.Mass communication programs about HIV/AIDS 2.Legalize and regulate commercial sex 3.Subsidize the distribution of condoms
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4.Provide free diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS 5.Develop an HIV/AIDS vaccine Population Policies Definition: Population policies to influence population growth and distribution involve a wide range of decisions and actions by governments, both direct and indirect, which influence individual and family decisions regarding marriage and childbearing, working arrangements, place of residence, etc. Or Population policy may be defined as deliberately constructed or modified institutional arrangements and/or specific programs through which governments influence, directly or indirectly, demographic change. Or
Population policy is explicit or implicit measures instituted by a government to influence population size, growth, distribution or composition.

Types of Population Policies Direct or explicitgovernment actions taken for the purpose of affecting a demographic outcome , e.g., migration laws Indirect or implicitgovernment actions that only indirectly have some demographic effects, e.g., promoting female education

Explicit versus Implicit Policies Example: Slowing Population Growth Explicit Policies Provide free family planning services Increase taxes for each additional child Restrict immigration Raise the age of marriage Implicit policies Compulsory secondary education Restrict child labour Limit size of houses Raise status of women Provide old age security

Rationale for Adopting Population Policies


They are government actions (laws, regulations, programs), that try to influence the three agents of population change (births, deaths and migration), as a way to promote social and economic development. The stated intent of these policies often, is to improve the quality of life, consistent with the available resource in a country. In other words, summarily;

To change the future prospects of a country, specifically: To enhance economic development To improve social welfare To improve individual welfare
General Objectives of the national population Policy Closing the gap between high population growth and low economic productivity through planned reduction of population growth and increasing economic returns. Expanding economic and social development processes through holistic integrated development programs designed to expedite the structural differentiation of the economy and employment. Reducing the rate of rural to urban migration. Maintaining/ improving the carrying capacity of the environment by taking appropriate environmental protection/ conservation measures. Raising the economic and social status of women by freeing them from the restrictions and drudgeries of traditional life and making it possible for them to participate productively in the larger community. Significantly improving the social and economic status of vulnerable groups (women, youth, children and elderly).

Steps in Formulating a Population Policy What is the likely social/economic future if current demographic trends continue unchanged? What is a more desirable alternative demographic picture of the future? What current behaviours must be changed to achieve the more desirable future?

Major Areas of Concern for Population Policies Historically Fertility: pronatalist Migration: restrict emigration, encourage immigration
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Currently Fertility: primarily antinatalist Migration: restrict immigration, encourage redistribution Mortality: prolong survival

How Government Decisions Affect Family Decisions

Government Decisions

Socio-economic Environment

Family Decisions

Government Decisions Laws and regulations Marriage age Breast feeding Womens work Childrens education Spending Education Primary health care Family planning Old age security Tax programs Deductions for dependents Compulsory retirement tax

Socio-economic Environment Educational opportunities, especially females Availability of health and family planning services Status of women
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Financial and labour markets

Family Decisions Timing of marriage Number of children Childrens education Saving and consumption Work time within and outside the home

Summary This concludes this part of the module. The key concepts introduced in this part included: Policy instruments of government Explicit versus implicit policies How government decisions affect family decisions Steps in formulating a population policy

Rulers of any political unit have a stake in the size and composition of the population over which they have authority, hence an incentive to try to influence demographic change in a desired direction. Thus population policy may be said to have a long history, starting at least with the empires of the ancient world. Cultural Factors Affecting Population Policy Despite tremendous population pressures in the world, a variety of culture factors act to keep birth rates high. Cultural factors that might act to mitigate population control efforts include: A. Misconception about family planning methods Family planning efforts inevitable involve visits to clinics. In many developing countries some FP methods are not trusted... B. Ignorance of Biological Facts In order to prevent births (assuming one wants to), potential parents have to be aware of the biological process that creates babies in the first place.
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C. A Desire for Sons The desire for sons is a major impediment to birth control programs. In many countries, inheritance is left for male children only. Male children carry on the family name. Male children are a ready-made work force (girls may work, but once they marry, they go with their husband's family). Male children are the social security for the elderly. D. The Emotional Conditioning of the Male In many cases large families equal status for the males. A large family is living proof of the virility of the male. E. A General Problem People act, not for the good of society, but for their own immediate needs. In order for a population policy to be effective, individuals have to be convinced that they (and their family) will benefit. Study questions
1. What is a Population Policy? 2. What are the reasons which stimulate governments to formulate

population policies? 3. What is the rationale and objectives of the National Population Policy of a developing country such as Swaziland?

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