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Originally Posted by Botnst
All other things being equal, the health explosion could be expected to contribute to the acceleration of economic growth, the increase of incomes, and the spread of wealth. And, as it happens, the 20th century witnessed not only a population explosion and a health explosion, but also a “prosperity explosion.” Estimates by the economic historian Angus Maddison, who has produced perhaps the most authoritative reconstruction of long-term global economic trends currently available, demonstrate just that.
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Word I've heard is that initiatives like the Gates' Foundation health programs are the best bet for slowing pop. growth, because people who can count on 2 or 3 offspring surviving are less likely to want to have 8 or 10 and the subsequent perishing of half of them before age 5.
OTOH, the desire for a large family is an old one and new found prosperity makes it look attractive. One of the "roach coaches" that brought snacks and lunch to a former job site of mine (so called because they often have a horn that plays 'la Cucharacha [sp] to alert workers of their arrival) was run by a Vietnamese legal immigrant who had 8 kids.
As for the prosperity explosion of the 20th century, beginning to look like that boom is over. We're looking at generations now who will most likely be less prosperous than their parents.
This is a FINITE planet. Exponential growth is fun and exhilerating when you have lots of open space and untapped resources.