From Deseret News archives:
Is Earth's impending 'empty cradle' due to selfishness?
"Yet we still do face a 'population bomb' of a different sort," notes New American Foundation senior fellow, Phillip Longman in "The Empty Cradle." "But what makes today's economic growth unsustainable is not that it is about to exhaust the Earth's bounty, but that it is consuming more human capital than it produces." Longman continues, "The eventual result, if the (below-replacement level fertility rate) trend continues to run its course, is an exhaustion of human capital a harried, overworked society in which there are too few people to support the old or tend to the young."
Notwithstanding official and unofficial voices that continue to raise concerns about overpopulation, a number of countries that recognize the severe consequences of depopulation are experimenting with pro-natal policies to increase birthrates. For example, Singapore (TFR 1.58) has established a"baby bonus" policy, which deposits money into a savings account for newborns. The bonus applies only to second and third children.
What has caused this precipitous decline in birthrate? It turns out that there are pretty standard answers in the academic studies looking at this. Generally, the higher the education the lower the birthrate. The same is true of increased social status. The move to cities from farms decreases fertility. Government policies have an effect. Though it is worth noting that China's barbaric one-child policy only marginally increased its fertility free fall over some of its Asian neighbors.
Comments
- Thousands remember fall of Wall 11:29 p.m.
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on 11:28 p.m.
- Rains, flooding hit Gulf Coast 11:28 p.m.
- Court won't stop sniper execution 11:16 p.m.
- Abortion fight shifts to Senate 11:10 p.m.
- Cleveland inquiry expands overseas 11:10 p.m.
- DNA, bullets link suspect to slaying 11:09 p.m.
- 3 teens will be charged as adults 11:08 p.m.
- Memphis owner hopes Iverson returns 11:08 p.m.
- Federal judge asked to end bison kills 11:07 p.m.
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Hope for single moms
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- Soccer MVPs know how to win
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not
- GOP blasts Matheson after vote
- Newhouse Hotel, an explosive end
- House passes health care bill
228 - TCU showdown has big implications
183 - Lobo suspended
182 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
154 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
118 - Thousands protest health bill
113 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
97 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
National stats are in TCU's favor Stats Total Offense in Nation-Points...
The World Cup Bobsled Races are coming to Park City this weekend. The USA #1...
I think the "simple minds" are the ones that just watch the biased mainstream...
gee that would not be the coaches fault would it? How stupid an excuse,...
Only if the players get swagger and confidence back they can make the big...
I agree Kim should also be on this list!!
First let me make it clear that I am a BYU Fan. But Honestly I have to say...
To judge the Las Vegas water usage by simply watching a TV in the hotel room...
Anybody asking themselves what they can do at this point and getting that...
When will the State Championship games be played? anyone know?


You can be the first to comment on this story.