3 ms·

As far as I can tell, it's one of the more robust sociological correlations that has been established worldwide. Fertility rates are dropping on every continent

As far as I can tell, it's one of the more robust sociological correlations that has been established worldwide. Fertility rates are dropping on every continent, and the drops are strongly correlated with economic development. See links below, they seem pretty damning. And yes, it begun in the second half of the 20th century, but I don't think that makes it spurious. I wouldn't be surprised if western cultural influence played a meaningful role, but I can't imagine that explaining the entire phenomenon. --- * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_and_fertility https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_and_fertility (see the graph at the top) * https://ourworldindata.org/fertility-rate#total-fertility-rate-around-the-world-over-recent-centuries https://ourworldindata.org/fertility-rate#total-fertility-ra... * https://www.statista.com/statistics/1034075/fertility-rate-world-continents-1950-2020/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/1034075/fertility-rate-w...

BlueTemplar 3y ago
Is it a bad thing ? As you might know, Malthus was quite concerned about the issues of overpopulation. His solution was to educate women. This seems to be working surprisingly well !
- boppo1 3y ago
  >His solution was to educate women. Really? I never knew this! Can you expand on his rhetoric at all?
  - BlueTemplar 3y ago
    Well, that too short comment of mine might be slightly disingenuous, considering what you might have thought I meant by this, but here's an overview : https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aehr.12250 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aehr.12250 I seem to remember that he practiced what he preached (not only as the first ever professor of economics, but also as a pastor), and has founded at least one school for women, but annoyingly I can't seem to find the source any more ?? Of note also : by the end of the 19th century the (neo-)Malthusian feminists had already embraced ideas that he disagreed with like contraception and for some even abortion.

BlueTemplar 3y ago

Is it a bad thing ? As you might know, Malthus was quite concerned about the issues of overpopulation. His solution was to educate women. This seems to be working surprisingly well !

boppo1 3y ago
>His solution was to educate women. Really? I never knew this! Can you expand on his rhetoric at all?
- BlueTemplar 3y ago
  Well, that too short comment of mine might be slightly disingenuous, considering what you might have thought I meant by this, but here's an overview : https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aehr.12250 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aehr.12250 I seem to remember that he practiced what he preached (not only as the first ever professor of economics, but also as a pastor), and has founded at least one school for women, but annoyingly I can't seem to find the source any more ?? Of note also : by the end of the 19th century the (neo-)Malthusian feminists had already embraced ideas that he disagreed with like contraception and for some even abortion.