Ways to Control Population Growth

Population growth is the rate of increase in the size of a given area, such as a
city, country or continent. Population growth is closely linked to fertility, which is
the rate at which women produce offspring. Due to the limited resources on
earth and in various countries, rampant population growth can lead to
inadequate food and other amenities, so in certain cases it can be beneficial to
attempt to limit population growth.

One way for a country or other ruling authoritative body to control population
growth is to institute laws that prohibit high fertility. China, for instance, is well
known for instituting a "one child policy" which makes it illegal for urban couples
to have more than one child. Using regulations to control population in this
manner is often frowned upon, and requires a governing body with supreme
authority over its people, but it can be very effective.
Contraception

Another important way to limit population growth is to increase the rate of

contraception among the population. Contraception, while not infallible,
drastically reduces fertility rates, often with minimal expense. While
contraception and education about using contraception is widely available in
rich countries, people in poor countries may not have access to simple
contraceptive methods like condoms, or even know what they are. Not only can
poor nations in areas like Africa and southeast Asia benefit from the fertility
control aspect of contraception, but condoms can also help prevent the spread
of STDs like AIDS, which is an epidemic in many poor nations.

Economics

Economics plays a vital role in determining population growth. Countries that are well developed
tend to have lower population growths and are more urbanized, with a higher cost of living, while
poor countries are more rural with a lower cost of living. When the cost of having a child is
extremely high, it deters parents from having more than a couple of kids. When the costs of raising
children are low, such as they are in rural areas where they may contribute greatly to work on a farm,
families have a much greater incentive to have babies. Encouraging economic development and
urbanization in less developed countries may eventually lead to lower population growth.
Considerations

While not designed for population control, there are several other factors which
tend to limit population growth. Wars are one factor which plays a large role in
limiting population growth. Since soldiers are typically able bodied men, any
combat deaths are likely to decrease population growth. Controlling population
is a very controversial subject, and many consider education and making
contraception available, but not forcing its use to be the only acceptable way to
promote population control. Even if birth rates can be controlled to a mere
replacement rate (every couple has two kids, replacing the mother and father)
increasing sophistication of health care has led to an increase in life
expectancies, which has further increased the size of world populations.

Human population planning

Human population planning is the practice of intentionally managing the rate of growth or
decline of a human population. Historically human population planning has been
implemented with the goal of increasing the rate of human population growth by reducing
death rates. In the period from the 1950s to the 1980s, concerns about global population
growth and its effects on poverty, environmental degradation and political stability led to
efforts to reduce human population growth rates. While population planning can involve
measures that improve people's lives by giving them greater control of their reproduction, a
few programs, most notably the Chinese government's "one-child policy", have resorted to
coercive measures.

Methods

Population planning may use one or more of the following practices although there are other
methods as well:

Contraception

Abstinence

Reducing infant mortality so that parents do not increase their family size to ensure
at least some survive to adulthood.[1]

Abortion

Changing status of women causing departure from traditional sexual division of

labour.

Sterilization

One-child and Two-child policies, and other policies restricting or discouraging births
directly.

Family planning[2]

Role-Model a Small Family as the Norm[2]

The method(s) chosen can be strongly influenced by the religious and cultural beliefs of
community members. The failure of other methods of population planning can lead to the
use of abortion or infanticide as solutions.[citation needed] While a specific population planning
practice may be legal/mandated in one country, it may be illegal or restricted in another,
indicative of the controversy surrounding this topic.