[Randolf Richardson]

When I look at various countries throughout the world, I’ve noticed that in higher educated societies that also value freedom (to speak, to write, to think, to make personal health decisions, etc.) generally tend to have lower birth rates. I suspect that one of the reasons for this is that education inspires many people to take a more academic interest in different aspects of life, and thus possibly hindering the desire to have large families — people still want to be parents, but because they have an educated mindset they would likely be more naturally inclined (because they are educated) to consider the long-term ramifications of serious decisions like having children (and may even be more motivated to adopt, etc.).

In countries where there is less education (which seems to coincide with more poverty), people generally have larger families. One correlation I’ve also noticed is that in these countries it seems that religion is a lot more popular, and of course religious are typically against birth control methods like contraception, abortion, etc., and generally encourage people to have more kids (although this seems to be encouraged unofficially as an attitude).

So, three things that come to mind for me immediately as the most important elements in reducing the rate of population growth are:

1. Ensuring that everyone has access to evidence-based education (Kindergarten to Grade 12 needs to be free at the very least).

2. The empowerment of women to have full freedom to make decisions concerning their own health, and without having to have their decisions questioned (that also means that laws, politicians, and religious institutions must not be permitted to interfere in any way with any pregnant woman’s choice to have an abortion).

3. Protecting everyone’s freedom to express any idea, and question any idea in any manner, regardless of what the idea is or its source (e.g., political opinion, government policy, scientific fact, religious claim, etc.). These freedoms (and many others) need to be protected as inalienable rights so as to foster openness, honesty, and transparency in society at all levels from individual citizens to all aspects of government.

In the long term, I believe that education, empowerment, and freedom are important keys to improving the population rate problems that are of concern today, and that they make it possible to do so without the need to impose population controls.

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