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The world population is growing because the birth rate exceeds the death rate, so to stabilize the world population either the birth rate needs to drop, or the death rate needs to increase. The most cited reference for population studies is the projections of future population (PDF) made by the Population Division of the United Nations. The UN report projects the world population to eventually stabilize as a result of countries settling in to a birth rate that falls around the replacement level.
A commentary by Stephen Warren in the open access journal Earth's Future takes the UN report to task for focusing on birth rate. He notes that all species generate offspring in numbers well above the replacement level of two, but you don't see historically the kind of population growth like you do with humans. He argues that despite all the negative feedback mechanisms on population (such as war and pestilence), it seems that Malthus (PDF) was correct that food supply is the driving factor, and wonders whether it is even possible to stabilize the world population until food production levels off.
[Editor's Comment: Original Submission]
(Score: 4, Interesting) by hemocyanin on Tuesday May 26 2015, @03:23PM
Maybe the driving factor is a combination of poor economic future and sufficient food supply. You have to have the food, but when you can achieve nothing else in life except offspring no matter how hard you try, people might focus on that goal. Just a total guess on my part.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by ikanreed on Tuesday May 26 2015, @03:26PM
Higher GDP per capita and average happiness levels are correlated with lower fertility. Your theory is ad hoc and does a poor job of explaining similar data in Europe.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday May 27 2015, @02:15AM
Higher GDP per capita and average happiness levels are correlated with lower fertility.
He was saying lack of future corresponds to higher fertility. If we assume that higher GDP per capita and average happiness levels corresponds to a better future, then he would be agreeing with you at least on the outcome.
(Score: 2) by ikanreed on Wednesday May 27 2015, @01:34PM
Hmm. I guess I can believe that's what he was saying.
It's one of those internet conversations where you just don't understand what the other person is saying, I guess.
(Score: 5, Funny) by FatPhil on Tuesday May 26 2015, @03:33PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by mojo chan on Wednesday May 27 2015, @07:52AM
The population decline in Japan is due to the typical issues that affect people in develop nations. They want careers, children are expensive, and they have the education and empowerment to choose not to have them.
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)