A very interesting read. It is true that increases in women’s education correlate with decreases in number of offspring they have. However, the UN actually reports this as one of the founding reasons they provide birth control to developing nations. I have spent time in Kenya working with a tribe of Maasai. They lived in mud-huts, no electricity, but they have solar-charged mobile phones. That didn’t stop the women from having a lot of children due to lack of access to medical supplies such as birth control. Mobile phones may be reaching rural populations, it doesn’t mean that other modern amenities are following.

And, these authors don’t, however, seem to discuss other environmental impacts that will affect population growth? Did I miss that? Such as disease? Limited energy and food resources as climate change affects farming? Etc. I think these may be factors that lower population over time as much as women obtaining equal rights and access to education.

Population growth is affected by so many factors I think it is hard to determine future outcomes. I think of my niece, modern age women in the USA, only 30. Her parents were going to pay for college, and instead she decided to get married and have 4 kids. When women’s rights first hit, they may choose to have less kids. But later on, as we are seeing in the USA, they may go back and choose to have a large family instead.

It is very hard to determine what will happen based on all the difficult to measure factors.

Just my 2-cents.

Fun discussion Chilton!

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Dr. Michelle Rogers-Estable

Director of the Teaching, Learning & Technology Center (TLTC)

SUNY Oneonta - B238 Milne Library
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Website: https://suny.oneonta.edu/tltc

Zoom Room: https://zoom.us/j/4974160849

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From: Teaching Breakfast List <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of "Reynolds, Chilton" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Teaching Breakfast List <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 4:27 PM
To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: A different take on population growth

We in the TLTC ran across this article earlier this week and I would love to hear some of your thoughts on this:

https://www.wired.com/story/the-world-might-actually-run-out-of-people/

Does the UN really have it all wrong?  I am really intrigued by the premise, but have no idea if they are on to anything or not.

And I’m not a big fan of the title and it’s hyperbole, but maybe that’s just me.

Chilton

Chilton Reynolds

Instructional Technology Support

TLTC PD Coordinator

SUNY COIL Network Coordinator

Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center (TLTC)

SUNY Oneonta, Oneonta NY 1820

Email: [log in to unmask]

Phone: 607-436-2673