Implications of the Race Between Economics and Population in Latin America

Hunger is the price today of the race between economics and population in Latin America. Thus, the pri mary problem is to achieve an adequate food supply at prices which the poor people can afford. The changes in economics and population must be seen in the perspective of the indus trial revolution and the democratic revolution. The industrial revolution has provided the means to achieve a better life and the democratic revolution has provided the desire for and awareness of a better life. But the industrial revolution has also brought in its wake increased poverty. The industrial revolution, for example, tremendously advanced the public health services, but as the death rate declined population in creased and more mouths needed to be fed. The industrial revolution by modernizing agricultural production increased the food supply but it also released people from the land who could earn higher wages in the cities. As the demand for and the price of food increased, less and less people could afford to buy the food. Thus, the hunger problem, and the need for tremendously increased agricultural productivity arose. Co operative efforts among many disciplines are needed to devise balanced development programs—programs that will stimu late economic growth in Latin America but will obviate in creased hardships.—Ed.