Match the important words in the definition of 'optimum population' with the scholars who gave them.  a. Boulding i. maximum economic growth  b. Dalton ii. maximise standards of living  c. Peterson iii. maximum social welfare  d. Car Saunders iv. maximise income per head  

Match the important words in the definition of 'optimum population' with the scholars who gave them.  a. Boulding i. maximum economic growth  b. Dalton ii. maximise standards of living  c. Peterson iii. maximum social welfare  d. Car Saunders iv. maximise income per head   Correct Answer a - ii, b - iv, c - i, d - iii

The correct answer is Option 2.

• The optimum population is a concept where the human population is able to balance maintaining a maximum population size with optimal standards of living for all people.

Key Points

• The optimum population is an economic concept that denotes a balanced population resource relationship in an area.
  • It shows the size of the population which yields the highest quality of life. 
• As per Boulding, “The population at which the standard of living is at maximum is called the optimum population.”
• As stated by Dalton, “It is that which gives the maximum income per head.”
• In the opinion of Peterson, “It is the number of people that in a given natural, cultural and social environment produces the maximum economic return.”
• As per Car Saunders, “It is that population which produces maximum social welfare.”

Additional Information

• As per S. D. Maurya, “It is the population size in relation to given economic, social or military goals, produces the maximum return.”
• According to Veyret-Verner“ It is the one that enjoys full employment, a satisfactory level of life, daily per capita intake of over 2500 calories of food, per capita expenditure on food not exceeding 50 % of total income, rational utilization of resources, dependency ratio not overburdening the adults and the division of labour permitting purely intellectual functions.”