Population growth and economic development: a case study of Yugoslavia

The paper deals with the relationship between the population growth and economic development in Yugoslavia and its republics, covering the period after the 2nd World War. Yugoslavia is a developing country with a specific demographic and economic structure which makes it unique in Europe. Its territory is comprised of both relatively developed regions where demographic transition is over, and underdeveloped regions with high natural increase of population where the demographic transition is only just beginning. Correlation and regression methods were used to quantify this relationship. The economic development and structural changes are discussed, relating to human factor. An adequate population policy through family planning is stressed as important in obtaining an increased return to scale with a more positive role of demographic factor.