text: economic growth is not well established, it is possible that rapid population growth may place additional constraints on socio-economic development in developing nations. For example, pressure for a substantial increase in food suppli~s and agricul- 131 E/ECA/Cf!.;. 9/5 tural production to meet the needs of the rapidly growing popula­ tion is likely to affect the allocation of resources to other economic and social sectors. The inability of the modern sector to absorb ever larger numbers of workers will force them either into unproductive service occupations or back into the tradition­ al sector with its low productivity and bare subsistence wage levels. This supply of cheap labour in large numbers tends to hold back technological change: industrialization is slowed by mass poverty, which in turn reduces demand for manufactured goods. 8. The numbers of children are growing even more rapidly than the total population, and educational facilities must be provided for ever larger numbers, but this makes it difficult to raise en­ rolment ratios and improve the quality of education. Because each cohort of the population is larger than the iast, it is dif­ ficult to recruit sufficient teachers from among the adult population . 9. Rapid population growth affects the cost, nature and adequacy of health and welfare services in much the same way. The physical and mental development of children is often hampered in large families because of inadequate nutrition and the dis­ eases associated with poverty, and because the children have in­ sufficient contact with adults. Poor and crowded housing in rapidly growing cities makes disease and physical retardation prevalent. 10. Although at the time of tn~-World Population Conference in 1974 only a few African Governments viewed rapid growth rates as a problem to be solved by government action, that state of af­
analysis: The text primarily discusses the challenges posed by rapid population growth on various aspects of socio-economic development in developing nations, including economic growth, education, health, and employment. The focus is on the consequences of rapid population growth on the allocation of resources, technological change, and the quality of life.