-…no sustained economic growth is possible because each specific advance is rapidly checked by some counter-ten- dency in the social system. The most important of such counter tendencies is excessive population growth. Any sig- nificant economic progress tends to prolong life by reduc- ing famine and pesti-lence. When death rates decrease more rapidly than birth rates—often, indeed, while birth rates are increasing—then rapid population growth occurs. In poor countries population growth tends to “lead” economic growth by setting rates of increase that must be at-tained so that the society can stay at its existing levels of poverty. No surpluses can be generated, hence no “leap forward” is possible.
- Daniel Lerner
