Why governments don't do more to control population growth?

Question

Could it be that capitalist economies depend some much on consumerism for survival?
In two different ocasions I heard the president of the U.S. recommending the population of that country to "go shopping, go shopping".

Population control is the cure to save Mother Earth.

Answer 1

They are doing a lot and have been for over 50 years. Encouraging overpopulation is not one of the flaws in capitalist's governments.
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/peo_tot_fer_rat-people-total-fertility-rate
All the developed countries of the world and many of the undeveloped ones already have fertility rates below replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. There are government sponsored and international programs to reduce the birth rate in poor countries that still have high birth rates. The world birth rate has fallen from 5 children per woman in 1950 to about 2.5 in 2000 and is expected to reach zero population growth levels by 2030 and continue to fall. It is expected that if current trend continue the world population will start to decline by 2050.

The most effective way to reduce fertility is to decrease infant and child mortality rates so people do not have extra children to insure the will have some surviving ones, and to give women more rights so they have other choices in life besides motherhood. Only then does providing birth control have real effects

Answer 2

Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which has been signed and adopted by many of the member nations of the UN, states:

Article 16.

(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Aside from this, most people in countries that do not currently have policies on population control would not idly stand by and allow government interference in their right to procreate. Aside from the numerous problems forced sterilization and quotas cause (in China, for example), most people feel that it is a violation of our basic human rights. And it is.

One active role government can take in trying to reduce population growth is in promoting sexual education, teaching their citizens about birth control and abstinence, and making birth control means avialable through state run clinics.

Answer 3

Because murder is still illegal last time I checked. And overpopulation is bogus to begin with.

In the 1850's an extremely well respected economist named Rober Malthus predicted that the world would become overpopluated, and people would start dying of starvation, in something like 20 years (I don't remember the exact number but it was very small). Rober Malthus is still a respected figure in economics except for this particular theory. The problem with his theory was that he didn't take into account technological advance and innovation to deal with growing populations (e.g. better farming techniques to grow more food). Other than that he would have been right.

In developed nations underpopulation is more of a problem that overpopulation nowadays. But even if it was I think an advanced society like ours could come up with a beter solution than contraception, sterlization, and muder (abortion) to solve its problems. Let's try not take the easy way out of everything.

Answer 4

Population control might be the solution to many problems, indeed if it isnt done we will over populate our ecological system like any creatures.
It doesnt win votes though, and is a long term problem. Governments tend to only take account of problems that occur within their electoral cycle. Its how we have managed to stuff up the environment, despite the fact everyone knows we are stuffing it up.

Answer 5

Cause then it ends up like China with people killing their daughters because they are allowed 2 children and boys are considered more valuable there.

They should provide incentives. And since it is actually the less developed nations that are contributing most to population then birth control education would be most appropriate.

Answer 6

You are right - since 1950, the wolrd population has doubled. China & India made rules of only one child per family & in the long run, it will probably work. But at present, there are millions of males (the prefered sex), who will never have children, never marry & will die virgin. Same in India, where girl babies are also aborted, drowned, starved & killed regularly. In a few generations though, there will be fewer people.

Answer 7

Because if you start culling populations or sneaking into peoples houses at night and forcing sterilisation on them you get in trouble.

Answer 8

Theyre working on it mate. The next lot of bird flu is all boxed up and ready to go. Oh and dont forget to buy some of Rummys Tamiflu when the pandemics arrive.