Living Within Limits - Chapter 4

Population Theory

Socialism, Capitalism, Communism, and Democracy... all ideologies agree...

At the first UN conference on population in Bucharest in 1974, the Chinese delegation espoused that 'Population is not a problem under socialism... (insert scapegoat) the primary way of solving the population problem lies in combating the aggression and plunder of the imperialists, colonialists... and particularly the superpower.'  (Four years later, the Chinese government instituted the most wide-spread population control initiative in human history: the 1-child policy.)

At the same conference, the Indian delegation offered up this gem: "Development is the best contraceptive", which effectively brushes off the worst effects of overpopulation - hunger, disease, deforestation, and soil degradation.  The U.S. so enjoyed this philosophy, that they adopted it as their own during the 2nd UN population conference ten years later, repeating India's slogan, "Development is the best contraceptive."

Despite their professed differences, the ideologies that these various countries have adopted all share a common thread - 'a deep faith in technological progress.  Holders of the reins of power in all nations believe that technology can solve all problems.'

As in all religions, faith in the cult of technology/progress is selective...

In economics, as in ecology, supply and demand are the two sides of the scale of equilibrium.  Unconsciously, when we speak of technological progress, we almost exclusively refer to increasing the supply, in order to meet (ever increasing) demand.

As Hardin keenly points out, 'technology that attacks the demand end of the demand-supply equation is not generally approved of.  This is not only true of contraceptives, or population.  Despite the fact that eating excessive sugar or fats is detrimental to our health, would we ever jeapordize sales by restricting the use of such products?  Unlikely in my opinion.

I personally discovered that running shoes, despite their pleasing aesthetics, fluffy comfort, and exorbitant price tags, are essentially useless (and indeed detrimental) when compared to the feet God made for me (for free).  30 years after its invention, this essentially useless industry is now a multi-billion dollar behemoth.  Will it ever go away?  Probably not, as it provides employment, which leads to wealth, which leads to progress, etc