Economic growth (an increase in production), can be affected by
  • an increase in population,
  • an increase in capital,
  • the discovery of new resources, or
  • technology.

An increase in population potentially increases the supply of labour, which will increase production and result in economic growth.

However, more people also means more mouths to feed. An increase in population, therefore, will not automatically lead to a higher standard of living. 
               

An increase in capital physical assets means that each worker has more to work with and can be more productive. That increased production can lead to economic growth and a higher standard of living.

An increase in capital investment can be a source of growth. People invest time, money, and effort to seek growth.
              

Discoveries of new sources of raw materials can lead to increased production, economic growth, and a rising standard of living.
               
The discovery of new methods, techniques, and technologies is called technical progress and is an economic measure of innovation.
Some of the ways technology can increase production are by
  • automating procedures,
  • reducing salaries and wages, and
  • facilitating cross-border sales (such as Amazon does) and communication (such as Skype does).