Population Change, Telecommunications Usage and Economic Development in Selected sub-Saharan African Countries

Abstract

For decades, demographers, economists and social scientists have debated the influence of population change on economic development. Three alternative positions define this debate: that population growth restricts, promotes, or is independent of economic development. In recent years, a general agreement has emerged to the effect that improving economic conditions for individuals generally lead to lower birth rates. But, there is much less agreement about the proposition that lower birth rates contribute to economic development and help individuals and families to escape from poverty. It is in the light of this that this paper examines recent evidence on the debate that population change if not controlled would affect the use of infrastructures and economic development in selected sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, the study employed econometric analyses involving the Least Square Dummy Variables (LSDV) technique for the period 1988-2012 on twenty-five selected SSA countries. Secondary data were used for the estimations. The study found that population growth has a significant negative impact on economic development, and the population growth rate needs to be controlled in order to have sustainable development in the SSA sub-region. The study concluded that the governments of these countries should incorporate policies and programmes to reduce high fertility in their economic development strategies.

Keywords: Population Change, Economic Development and Infrastructures.