Which of the following statements about population is correct?
Answer Details
The correct statement about population is that under-population implies that available resources are not used to full capacity.
Under-population occurs when the number of people in a particular area is lower than what is necessary to fully utilize the available resources, such as land, labor, and capital. As a result, there is excess capacity, and resources are not utilized to their full potential.
For example, consider a small town with a population of 1,000 people and several factories. If the factories can employ up to 2,000 people, the town is underpopulated. In this case, the available labor force is not sufficient to fully utilize the factories' capacity. Therefore, the factories are not operating at their full potential, and the town is not benefiting from the maximum possible output.
In contrast, over-population occurs when the number of people in a particular area exceeds the available resources, resulting in a decline in per capita output and standard of living. Optimum population, on the other hand, refers to the level of population that maximizes the use of available resources and results in sustainable economic growth and development. It is neither fixed nor does it lead to overcrowding of cities.