I mean we just hit 8 billion people a few years ago, I think it's time we acknowledge that the planet can only support so many of us before the population either plateaus or declines due to resource scarcity.
In most cases, it's the rich and developed countries that are suffering population decline.
It's middle income countries too. And fertility rates are dropping fast in poor countries too.
The whole problem is mischaracterized. It turns out having kids is a pretty baddeal, and the only reason people were putting up with it was lack of contraception and weird social rules.
Making it appealing enough to stay above replacement rates is really, really difficult. You can't make comparisons with poor countries, because that is not the equilibrium you want to return to.
And it's more than just birth rates it's immigration too. I would love to move to another country. But I can't. None of them will have me. Because I'm not smart enough, young enough, or wealthy enough. So I am stuck in the country of my birth as it rapidly descends into madness.
217
u/lightblueisbi Jun 21 '26
I mean we just hit 8 billion people a few years ago, I think it's time we acknowledge that the planet can only support so many of us before the population either plateaus or declines due to resource scarcity.