ABSTRACTIn this paper population growth is the outcome of a utility maximizing process undertaken by each working generation. This is distinct from the usual treatment of population growth as an exogenous variable. Steady state growth paths are analysed, and the model is extended to allow for international lending and borrowing. The results obtained broadly correspond to the case of a given rate of increase of population, but under certain assumptions it is found that a capital importing country will have a faster rate of growth as a result of being able to borrow on international capital markets.