Throughout the history of economic thought, analysis of demographic phenomena is rarely unconnected with consideration of economic development. The relationship between the two has changed through time and its exact nature is still not entirely clear today. The effect of population growth, or decline, on economic development and social welfare is still very much a matter of debate. In this important new volume, Claudia Sunna charts the history of this most important of topics ? from the Mercantilist era until the present day - in which the writings of Malthus, Wicksell, Pareto and Keynes are key.