Source: International Statistical Programs Center, U. S. Bureau of the Census, September, 1971. Revised Sept. 13, 1973 "The U. S. Concern. "Our own enlightened self-interest requires that we participate actively with all countries in encouraging programs to slow the population explosion. The stability and peace of the world are undermined by excessive global population growth, which: hampers economic and social progress we are -- widens the gap between rich and poor nations; -- distorts international trade; increases the likelihood of mass famine in the adds to environmental problems; produces increasing numbers of restless young enlarges the dangers of civil unrest; promotes aggressions endangering peace. "The burden of population growth places increasing demands on our development aid programs: our aid has made possible improvements in agricultural technology and grain production abroad but growing population keeps caloric intake down; while we have helped increase the number of schools, there are ever more children for whom there is no schooling; our aid funds have assisted in the construction of new homes, but larger numbers of families are without adequate shelter. "As President Nixon has pointed out in his message to the Congress July 18, 1969 "... population growth is among the most important issues we face.... (It) is a world problem which no country can ignore, whether it is moved by the narrowest perception of national self-interest or the widest vision of a common humanity... For high rates of population growth ... 'impair individual rights, jeopardize national goals, and threaten international stability. ་ ་་ Reading List 1. Ehrlich, Paul R. Population Resources Environment: Issues in Human Ecology. San Francisco, Calif.: Freeman, 1970. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Ginzberg, Eli. Manpower for Development. New York: Helfrich, Harold W., Jr. The Environmental Crisis: Man's Nelson, Jack L. Population and Survival: Can We Win the Race? Population Bulletins. Washington, D. C.: Population Reference Ruttenberg, Stanley H. Manpower Challenge of the 1970's: Thomlinson, Ralph. Population Dynamics: Causes and Consequences of World Demographic Change. New York: Random House, 1965. U. S. Agency for International Development. Population Program Office, December 1971. U. S. Commission on Population Growth and the American INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS The past two decades have seen the building of a closely knit international economy. Remarkable growth in international commerce has gone hand in hand with sustained prosperity; each has contributed to the other. At times, deep and obvious strains in the international monetary system have imperiled this progress, but these difficulties have been weathered without a serious setback in economic growth or world trade. The world economy emerged from the Second World War in a gravely weakened state with many countries suffering severely from war damage. However, the recuperative strength of the Western European nations, assisted by U.S. aid, resulted in rapid economic recovery. The fruits of unprecedented prosperity are still not being fully shared by nations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. The future growth of these nations must be built primarily on the skills, intelligence, and labor of their citizens. However, the developed countries can facilitate the process by providing technical assistance, public and private capital and access to markets. During the 1950's, the increasingly prosperous countries of Western Europe liberalized trade and capital movements substantially. Meanwhile U.S. capital moved in to promote economic growth abroad and contributed to expansion of world monetary reserves, and in turn helped the expansion of world trade. The growth of world trade and income continued and accelerated during the 1960's. But there have been periodic monetary disturbances. U.S. balance of payments deficits have continued to date, except for 1969. Important problems remain. Recent financial disturbances have emphasized the need for further evolution to insure that the system can continue to support growing world trade and prosperity. The President's report to the Congress of February 1972 reflects the following pertaining to international economics: "The year 1971 marked a turning point in the world econ omy. We undertook a series of far-reaching measures which revitalized our foreign economic policy and set the stage for fundamental and long term reforms in the international economic system. "The Setting for Change. In the immediate postwar period new arrangements and institutions to govern the international economic system were established. At that time the United States was the preeminent economic power in the world and assumed primary responsibility for the economic viability and security of much of the non-Communist world. We launched the Marshall Plan to help Europe to get back on its feet. We assisted in the economic recovery of Japan. We encouraged European economic cooperation. "Along with other nations, we helped to establish the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to promote world monetary cooperation; the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to create a code and a mechanism for the orderly conduct for international trade; and the World Bank to assist reconstruction in Europe and provide assistance to the less developed nations. These formed the institutional basis of an international economic system which promoted the expanding flow of commerce and resources needed to restore free world prosperity. "Since those institutions were established the world economy has undergone major structural changes. Both the volume of commerce and the transfer of financial resources have increased greatly. The industrial capacities of Europe, Japan, and Canada have grown rapidly, and each is now a strong trading and financial power. These new realities needed to be reflected in both our foreign economic relationships and international institutions and arrangements. In 1971 our policies were directed at achieving that objective. International Monetary Policy "After two decades of stability and progress, a series of crises beginning in the late 1960's had shown that the international monetary system could not cope adequately with the scale and 109 |