In recent weeks there have been a number of people noticing the serious concern of low birth rates.
To that, I say amen. Low birth rates are a significant problem for a society and the problems will compound over generations if people continue to have less children.
One thing that we must understand in the beginning is that overpopulation is not a problem. It has been commonly accepted that we are overpopulating the world and that it will cause dire consequences. We will run out of resources, space, food and we will destroy the climate trying to gain what is needed to survive. They will give you information, data and statistics gained from modeling, and it will be false. It will be false because the foundational assumptions were wrong.
The theory of overpopulation began with a man named Thomas Malthus in the 19th century. He posited that while populations may grow exponentially, food supplies do not. Along with this notion, he also suggested that poverty and pestilence would help to eradicate the human race. Overpopulation had to be stopped to prevent the failure of society.
Malthus was wrong. The population grew massively after Malthus made his ominous predictions and we have also seen an incredible decline in disease, poverty and starvation across the world.
Historically, authoritarian governments existed and controlled the economies, food supplies and freedoms of the people. In this system, population growth posed significant challenges to people. With the rise of capitalism, this problem was solved.
Capitalist societies function on meritocracy. In other words, the quality of your idea or product would determine success or failure. Your ability to own property, accumulate wealth, and work at that which you found profitable changed the way that society advances. With the massive population expansion after Malthus, the increase in capitalism as an economic system – and the spread of more free governments – we solved many of the issues which concerned Malthus.
The baby boomer generation is the proof that overpopulation is not a problem. They have produced and accumulated more wealth than any generation prior to them. Not only so, but the wealth has been more evenly distributed among people than ever before. A common truism applies: a rising tide lifts all boats. This is objectively visible in the boomer generation.
Why does this matter? The theories behind many of the bad ideas in our culture have overpopulation as a foundational principle. Malthus was wrong about the exponential growth of food supplies. We did, in fact, create more food than ever. We have more resources, better health care, longer life expectancy and less global poverty. Technological advancement occurs with necessity and means.
The problem is not population, it is lack of freedom. When people have a free economy, the right to property and a need for improvement, they will advance technology. It is in the governmental regulation of these things that we have a problem. The economy needs people. High birth rates produce more wealth and resources, as long as people are sufficiently free.
Jeremy Wiggins writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. Email him at jeremywiggins87@gmail.com.