| Abstract: | Commenting on an article by A. Ia. Kvasha, the author wonders whethe r the Soviet state, as a matter of policy, encourages measures to limit the growth of population. He further regards the Soviet attitude, as he understands it, of making light of the expanding population in developing countries as dangerous and suggests that in the developing world some measures of population control would be necessary in making the transition from a traditional agricultural society into a modern ind ustrial one. In a reply, Kvasha admits that social and economic development can only be obtained by radical changes in the economic structure and the creation of an independent economic base and a relatively well-developed home-owned industry. But he feels that demographic problems, no matter how acute, are always resolved in intimate association with the entire course of social progress. Each socialist country may take a unique approach to population problems as socialist governments do have the opportunity to regulate many processes of life. Thus, the current population policy in the Soviet Union consists of measures to stimulate the birthrate while preserving the right for individuals to plan their own families. Poland is taking measure to limit births while Czechoslovakia and Hungary are trying to increase them. |
