The role of development indicators in demographic changes and policy-making: with an emphasis on Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Associate Prof. of Sociology, Sociology and Social Planning Department, College of Economics, Management and Social Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.

10.22034/scs.2023.393589.1428

Abstract

Using documentary and library methods, secondary analysis, and resources in the field of historical, demographic, and developmental changes, this article has analyzed the role of development indicators in demographic changes and policy-making in the world and Iran. The main question of the article was what is the connection between demographic changes and development, and what scenario can be proposed for the population policy of a country like Iran? The findings showed that demographic indicators have changed in line with developmental changes and developed and developing countries of the world - including Iran - have different demographic indicators. Countries with high population growth have lower rates of success and human development than developed countries with lower population growth. In line with the second demographic transition, a type of cultural transition has occurred in family values and having children in less developed countries which affects the behavior of having children. Finally, population policy scenarios are presented in relation to the rate of population growth and the level of development of countries. The trend of economic, social, and demographic changes shows the necessity of a kind of contingent-comparative population policy. For a society like Iran, a stabilization scenario for a "dynamic balance" is proposed.

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