Question

It is often argued that population growth is not merely a question of numbers but that of the age composition of population. This is because}

• A. more numbers will inevitably mean more production
• B. more people in the productive age group means net addition to wealth
• C. the nature of public expenditure on services is determined by the composition of the population
• D. None of these

Hint:

Focus on demographic dividend: a higher working-age population boosts economic growth—this is a key exam concept.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept: Population is not just about size, but also about age structure, which determines economic productivity. Step 1:Understand age composition.
Population is divided into:

• Young (dependent)
• Working-age (productive)
• Old (dependent)

Step 2:Importance of productive age group.
A higher proportion of people in the working-age group leads to:

• Increased production
• Higher income generation
• Economic growth

Step 3:Evaluate options.}

• (A) $\rightarrow$ Incorrect (numbers alone do not guarantee production)
• (B) $\rightarrow$ Correct (productive population increases wealth)
• (C) $\rightarrow$ Secondary effect
• (D) $\rightarrow$ Incorrect

Final Answer: \[ {\text{more people in the productive age group means net addition to wealth}} \]