October 16 meeting: Falling fertility, smaller population: Should we celebrate or panic?

Birthrates are falling throughout the world. Very few countries outside Africa have total fertility rates above the replacement level. Demographers expect total world population to peak before the end of this century and then gradually decline into the indefinite future.

To some, this is cause for panic. Falling fertility, they say, will bring slower growth, lower living standards, and eventually, an empty planet. Others see the end to population growth as something to celebrate. After all, the drivers of lower fertility, such as empowerment of women, better education, higher living standards, and lower mortality, are all good in themselves. Would we really want to reverse them even if we could? And won't the environment benefit from fewer people?

So, panic or celebrate? Bring your views to our meeting on October 16. Here are some short readings on each side to get you thinking. Please use the comment box to suggest more.

• Politicians must act now to avert the worst (The Economist)
• The global fertility collapse (Brink Lindsey)
• Stop panicking about the birthrate (NY Times)
• Smaller populations have many benefits (The Overpopulation Project)