The case for higher population is that population growth brings economic growth, which brings prosperity. > Let's fix the growth-based economies and move on wi

The case for higher population is that population growth brings economic growth, which brings prosperity. > Let's fix the growth-based economies and move on with fewer but better-off people. Fewer people is easy, but fewer-but-better-off people seems very difficult. The wealth- and tax-revenue-creating capacity of the stock market (which has been going up at an inflation-adjusted average of ~6% annually since the late 1800s, driven by growth) simply cannot be replaced. With compounding 5% returns, saving 10K/year will net you a ~$700K nest egg over 30 years. With a flat market, you'd only have $300K.