Book Description

Socioeconomic development, the ultimate goal of which is a better quality of life, depends on many factors, including population, resources and environment. The relationship between population, resources, environment and development is complex and its many facets often interact amplifying each other. UN definitions of these 4 terms are used in this paper. Integration refers to the bringing together of specialized and differential units or activities into a single or more coordinated whole set of activities; it implies interdependence and interactivity of population and development programs. Despite the great contribution of the international conferences of the 1970s, integration has been a slow process in the ESCAP region. The present situation is not encouraging--great majority of countries consider current population growth rates a serious challenge to their socioeconomic development. Major problems are poverty and shortage of resources. The very low domestic food supply is causing a considerable proportion of the population to be underfed. Lack of sufficient energy resources, especially petroleum, and the increasing prices in the world market pose a serious threat. Under development is itself an environmental problem. The most common problem of population units or higher level committees attempts for integration is the lack of adequately trained manpower, particularly in demographic analysis and development planning. In some countries, however, no deliberate attempts to make use of available trained manpower have been effected. The structure of the units lacks the necessary power to influence overall planning. The authority over the budgetary provisions of other ministeries is unsatisfactory. Available knowledge on population development interrelationships is not consistent and does not significantly contribute to integrated development planning. Qualitative data and good research are essential. Although development plans and policies give the impression that population, resources, environment and development are successfully integrated, operationally, this is not so. Adequately trained manpower and carefully designed research are crucial to development planning.