Population policy after Mexico City.

In Mexico City the 2nd Population Corference emphasized the inextricable links between population resources environment and development and the need to integrate population and development programs. Essential points included in the core of the consensus enunciated in Mexico City are summarized. The US position at the Conference emphasized that population goals and policies must be considered not as ends in themselves but in the context of social and economic strategies designed to enhance the human conditions in a manner consistent with basic values. The US statement maintained that effective voluntary family planning programs will result in substantial declines in family size only to the extent that development changes the economic motivation and parents desire for large families. This position evolved however after considerable pressure on the Reagan administration. The administrations initial position considerable elements of which remain in the US policy statement had quite a different emphasis. Its argument is summarized and criticized on the grounds that it is remarkably insensitive to the facts especially in its assertion that the rise of economic statism in the developing countries after World War II constrained economic growth and thus created population problems. Rapid demograpphic transition in low income countries requires not only social and economic change that is broadly shared but also vigorous governement population policies. The policies and programs put forward by consensus at Mexico City cannot be regarded as short-term ameliorative efforts. They require radical changes in development strategies to broaden access to education health services employment opportunities and other basic needs. For the governemnt of the US to minimize the importance of rapid and widespread implementation of the policies adopted by consensus at Mexico City would be a disservice to the US and to the rest of the world. Population policies and programs and sound economic policies support one another and all are essential for successful development.