The problem of population and growth: a review of the literature from Malthus to contemporary models of endogenous population and endogenous growth

Navigating fertility, reproduction and modern contraception in the fragile context of South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo: 'Les enfants sont une richesse'

Modern contraception has created new possibilities for reimagining reproductive norms and has generated new socio-cultural uncertainties in South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Using inductive analysis of women's reproductive narratives, this paper explores how women in a high fertility context encounter and integrate recently introduced family planning and modern contraceptive education and services into their lives. As foundational socio-cultural norms confront the new reproductive possibilities offered by contraception, power dynamics shift and norms are called into question, re-interpreted and re-negotiated. Reproduction is located as a socially constructed process at the intersection of fertility norms, power dynamics, institutional practices, embodied realties and personal desires. In many ways the possibilities created by contraception - meant to increase certainty in the lives of users - actually increase uncertainty. The complexity of reproductive navigation reveals the shortcomings of reproductive theory and health and development discourses which view women and men as autonomous decision makers, removing them from the multiplicity of influencing factors, histories and power dynamics within which they realise their reproductive lives.

Time delays, population, and economic development

This research develops an augmented Solow model with population dynamics and time delays. The model produces either a single stationary state or multiple stationary states (able to characterise different development regimes). The existence of time delays may cause persistent fluctuations in both economic and demographic variables. In addition, the work identifies in a simple way the reasons why economics affects demographics and vice versa.

TAXAS DE NATALIDADE E MORTALDADE, DIVISIÓN DO TRABALLO E DISTRIBUCIÓN DO TEMPO POR XÉNERO NO MODELO DE CRECEMENTO DE SOLOW

O obxectivo deste traballo é o de incorporar o modelo de crecemento endóxeno da poboación no modelo de crecemento dun sector de Solow. O estudo propón unha interdependencia dinámica entre a taxa de natalidade, a taxa de mortaldade, a poboación, a acumulación da riqueza, e a distribución do tempo entre traballo, lecer e coidado dos fillos. O aspecto da produción e acumulación de riqueza constrúese co modelo de crecemento de Solow. Baseamos o noso modelo de dinámica poboacional no modelo poboacional de Haavelmo e o modelo de elección de fecundidade de Barro-Becker. Resumimos estas forzas dinámicas nun marco compacto, mediante a función de utilidade proposta por Zhang. O modelo describe unha interdependencia dinámica entre cambios da poboación, acumulación de riqueza, división de traballo e a distribución do tempo por xénero entre o traballo, o lecer e o coidado dos fillos. Simulamos o modelo para probar a existencia de puntos de equilibrio e movemento do sistema dinámico. Tamén examinamos os efectos dos cambios nos efectos de cambio na tendencia a ter descendencia, a tendencia ao aforro, a tendencia das mulleres a perseguir actividades de lecer, o capital humano das mulleres e a implicación emocional dos homes no coidado dos fillos.

Capital and Knowledge: Integrating Arrow’s Learning-by-Doing, the Walrasian Equilibrium Theory and Neoclassical Growth Theory

This article proposes a neoclassical growth model with endogenous capital accumulation and knowledge creation. The model integrates Arrow’s learning by doing, Uzawa’s two-sector growth model and Walrasian general equilibrium theory. We use a utility function, which determines leisure time, saving and consumption with utility optimization without leading to a higher dimensional dynamic system like the Ramsey approach. The dynamics of J-household economy is described by a (  J + 1)-dimensional differential equations system. We simulate the motion of the model and demonstrate transitional and long-term effects of changes in the propensity to save, the propensity to use leisure time, the population, the learning-by-doing efficiency and knowledge utilization efficiency. The comparative dynamic analysis provides some insights into issues related to inequality and growth.

JEL Classification: D51, D31, O41, E13

Reproductive rights approach to reproductive health in developing countries

BACKGROUND

Research on reproductive health in developing countries focuses mostly on the role of economic development on various components of reproductive health. Cross-sectional and empirical research studies in particular on the effects of non-economic factors such as reproductive rights remain few and far between.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the influence of two components of an empowerment strategy, gender equality, and reproductive rights on women's reproductive health in developing countries. The empowerment strategy for improving reproductive health is theoretically situated on a number of background factors such as economic and social development.

DESIGN

Cross-national socioeconomic and demographic data from a number of international organizations on 142 developing countries are used to test a model of reproductive rights and reproductive health.

RESULTS

The findings suggest that both economic and democratic development have significant positive effects on levels of gender equality. The level of social development plays a prominent role in promoting reproductive rights. It is found that reproductive rights channel the influences of social structural factors and gender equality on reproductive health.