[extropy-chat] [SALT] The DEpopulation Problem, this Friday (for forwarding)

[Patrick Wilken]

On 12 Aug 2004, at 09:08, Emlyn wrote:

> Do you think this (depopulation caused by people choosing to have less
> children) is a function of the cost of having children?

There surely is a cost to having children, and people are clearly 
choosing to have fewer. However, what needs to be emphasized is that 
it's women making these decisions. Its generally regarded in 
developmental agencies that one of the most potent forms of birth 
control are the micro-credit loans that allow women in developing 
countries some form of economic independence.

The shock-horror headline "World Birth Rates Plummet" could be 
re-written "Global Female Empowerment". Its interesting to speculate 
which headline is preferred and why.

best, patrick