7. The way to lower population growth is to give jobs and security to women
Opportunity cost is the cost that you give up to choose your choice. This is an economic term that is very important, because it allows us to understand choices.
Poor people have many children because the cost of bearing and raising children is low. Birth control, no matter how dependable, works only to the extent that the families prefer fewer children. Many women have babies because it serves their purpose to have babies.
If you give meaningful work to women, she will lose income if she stays home to have a baby, or to take care of the baby. That will make her think twice. It is no secret that employed women have fewer babies, and many even postponed having babies because of their jobs. Giving them meaningful jobs and other things to look forward to will enable them to have more choices to experience happiness other than having children.
Many people in developing countries also have lots of babies, because they don’t know how many will survive or how many will earn a decent pay. When the economy is uncertain as well, people look at having children as an insurance policy that somebody will take care of them when they are old or times are hard.
Many people nowadays, especially those who have secure jobs and income, and especially those in countries with advanced health care, have even made a conscious choice not to marry or have children. For them, it is not so vital as they know they will be taken care of when old.
May 20th, 2010 at 4:23 am
Education is important — most women have too much babies have low education, and as a result, low self esteem. Have low self esteem means she does not have a say, or dares not have a say.
May 21st, 2010 at 8:49 am
Well said Wilson and Berns
May 23rd, 2010 at 4:06 am
This is probably what is happening in Japan, on most parts of the world, countries are experiencing over population, but in Japan, the problem is different, They are experiencing a decrease in population, probably because they have generated enough jobs and have such an efficient educational system, that most people, (and not only women) are concerned with their careers, because it seems that in japan, there are more opportunities towards career advancement, giving people an incentive to not have families. The people in japan too well trained that it would be too much of a waste to settle down and have a family
May 26th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
The comments expressed here are very valid, however it is a cultural thing. You need to change peoples thinking and ideals and encourage birth control. But definately employing women in meaningful jobs with a reasonable salary will contribute to growth in the economy. education is the key.
May 27th, 2010 at 12:39 am
Thanks John. Yes, availability of the device is not going to make much use if the people think otherwise.
May 29th, 2010 at 4:19 am
Development theorists believe that if you give women more opportunities then it it is a natural way to curb population growth in most developing countries. women tend to have higher productivity in developing countries if given more opportunities (Dev Econ by Michael Todaro- if i remember it correctly).
May 31st, 2010 at 3:21 am
Good morning. Birth Control is the best for me..
May 31st, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Hi Mylene, You will do birth control because you want to, and have the means to do so. A woman who cannot assert will not be able to, and a woman who has no job or income protection will always feel that she is better off with more kids with the hope that one will make it, and therefore provide for her on her old age.
June 1st, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Frankly (read my lips) it is NOT necessary for any married couples to have children, nor are every couple are that meant for parenthood (in other words not all couples married or not is meant for parenthood). No couples’ gonna “die” if you don’t have kids, and it’s not illegal, unethical or immoral and will never be (that demonic to say the most). If either of the couples can’t be way too responsible enough for their children then it just ain’t for them to deserve having kids at all. Filipino couples are (blindly but pointlessly) “wanting” to have kids when they don’t realize it ain’t necessary at all, seeing it as if it was “a part of” or a way of life or any lame rebuttals or cliches just to punk off people like us who know a lot better than they are.
June 6th, 2010 at 2:48 am
Ladies & Gents, Everyone here forgets that what fuels our economy during the economic meltdown is the influx of dollars from OFWs. These are the people which were the target of Population control by the grand lawmakers – grand fathers of the present generation tongressmen.
Now again a revival of the population control is spearheaded by the grandsons of the ruling elite…the elite who were elected by the majority of the “masa” – the population engine in the Philippines.
Why can these Tongressmen just educate those who voted them – teach them how to fish rather than giving them fish.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Good article with many useful recommendations! Can’t say I completely agree with all that you have suggested here, but there are several critical suggestions you have highlighted that can be very useful on natural health and associated topics. Please keep providing more information on this topic and related issues, as there are plenty of people who are attempting to get to know the pluses and minuses.