Throughout modern times, economic growth has depended more on population growth than on any other factor.
Over a century ago, fear of the adverse economic fall out from slowing population growth did much to promote Victorian morality. It spawned religious revivalism, a cult of mother-worship domesticity, and growing intolerance of divorce, extramarital sex and birth control as families moved in droves from farms where children were economic assets to cities where children became economic liabilities so fewer were born.
Thus observes Phillip Longman in The Empty Cradle: How Falling Birthrates Threaten World Prosperity and What to Do About It.
According to Longman, the world faces an economic crisis of epochal proportions stemming from shrinking consumer populations in 59 nations representing 44% of the world’s total population. Compounding these challenges is the shifting of age ratios toward the old caused by low birthrates.
Longman correctly dispels the “mindless” myth that the “aging problem” is a developed nation phenomenon arising from better healthcare pushing outward the limits of human longevity. He notes that experts widely agree that only about five years of the 30 years increase in life expectancy since 1900 is attributable to better healthcare. Longman will also surprise most readers with his revelation that aging is generally taking place fastest in developing and undeveloped nations.
Be warned that as you read The Empty Cradle, it’s likely to stir notions that you have come to mindlessly accept that predispose you to reject critical propositions Longman makes. But bring mindful examination to bear on such propositions before you reject them out of hand.
If you wish, you can access Amazon.com to buy The Empty Cradle by clicking on its cover in the left column.
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