Is population growth on the planet no longer a problem?

In the 60's, 70's and early 80's, people all over the world worried about population growth. Countries like China and India were constantly pointed out as places where the growth was out of control. There were scenarios painted about what happens in crowded societies. Studies of rats in mazes were done, "proving" some of those assertions.

Sometimes, however, it felt like unfair criticism. After all, both India and China had lower density of population (number of people per square kilometer - or mile) than Europe. And, Europe did not seem to be moving towards the problems pointed out in these scenarios.

China started a successful program to control population. India too started a program - largely unsuccessful.

Fast forward to the early part of this century. There is no talk at all about population growth - in spite of the fact that half of India's current population was born in the 80's and after.


Why is it that the current generation and current dialog do not consider population to be a problem? Is it that:

- The planet's carrying capacity has increased (no evidence of that exists)
- The doomsday scenarios painted earlier have not come true (we have not yet reached the point of crowding that the scenarios would be evident in)
- We have all become focused on the short term, and no longer worry about the long term
- We have confidence that a solution will be found (to whatever problems we confront)
- Large populations serve a purpose - a source of effort (intellectual and physical) for improving the quality of lives for everyone; people that were considered a burden earlier, are now contributors

Some of these may be inter-related, and many are indeed true, but that is not the primary reason for lack of interest in population growth.

The dialog has now shifted - from population, to environment; which is where it should have been right from the beginning. Clearly, population was a proxy for anticipated problems on earth. Now that we are beginning to see these problems (e.g. global warming), people are tackling the real issues.

Population growth isn't the problem, but controlling it can be one part of a the answer. And, it is time the world started talking about it again - along with reducing our consumption, finding technology to reduce our carbon footprints etc.