First a primer on how a country's economy and it's
population mix are connected. A society stays poor, sadly, when infant
mortality rates fall, as that would mean more non-productive dependents.
In stage-two, awareness of better child-health, and the
difficulties of feeding a large family persuades people to have fewer
children. Coinciding with this, is a growing work-force of young that
diminishes dependants and puts extra money in people's pockets. This is
the stage when, spurred by a large work-force, disposable incomes and
rising productivity, the economy enters boom times.
In the third stage, decline begins as the work-force
grows old. Birth-rates may also have declined in the prosperity phase; the
percentage of old-age dependents grows in size. If a society, had planned
for this stage with the right investments during phase-two, its economy
is adequate for its people, but growth rates are no-where near what they
were in boom-time.
But, if political mis-management has not planned for
stage-three, the cycle can repeat with a viciousness.
India's position now.
The good news for India is that she may be entering
phase-two!
But, before we go further and congratulate ourselves,
here is a cautionary note: demography influences only a third of the GDP.
The rest must come from right, timely and adequate inputs into education,
health-care, infrastructure and governance.
If India does get it right, her current population, far
from being a burden, is in fact an asset.
Writing in BusinessWorld [ 'Miracle Economy?', Jan
10,2000], Nitin Srivastava gives us some facts to mull with satisfaction.
"First, in the late 70s and early 80s, the birth rate was very high.
In the coming years, the surge in the workforce, especially in the 20-40
years age group, can be attributed to this phenomenon. Second, between
1991 and 1995, for the first time, the birth rate fell more than the death
rate. So from now on, there will be fewer dependents to feed."
India's emerging promise is confirmed by empirical data
as well.
Experience of the 'tigers'.
Economist Paul Krugman observing the tiger-economies of
Asia, through the filter of this population dynamics , foresaw long before
others the tail-spin that hit them a couple of years ago. Though many have
recovered and put their houses in order, they may in fact be exiting
stage-two. China may exit the soonest. But, this doesn't mean poverty will
return, since, as we saw earlier, this theory in only a part of the growth
story. But these economies will not see 10% to 12% growth rates for a
long, long time.
In this phase offset between India and the Asian
economies, India may in fact, derive an additional advantage. India may
become the preferred destination for investors and with productivity
rising her competitive edge in the world markets may be sharper.
For, Indians who remember those derisive references to
'the Hindu rate of growth of 2% per annum', and despairing of her economy
ever bringing prosperity to her long-suffering people, this news of her
massive population configured for good times, would indeed bring cheer.
It is only appropriate to end this with, a prayer that we
get the rest of our efforts right!
September,2000
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