[zeugma]

From everything I've read about demographic trends worldwide, the best solution to 'overpopulation' is prosperity. Every place in the world that is increasing in prosperity is seeing decreases in birthrate.

Now, if we could only get rid of evil men like Mugabe, and the various others who still hang on to the failed experiments of socialism/communism, we might have a chance to see increased prosperity throughout the world.

[MonroeDNA]

People breed rapidly when their security is threatened. Just like all other animals. But we (as people) know when that threat has ended (unlike deer). Then we get a bit selfish (I admit it), and breed less. "The world is safe, it's time to play golf."

I would bet a large sum that there is a direct co-relation between certain "wealth" indicators and birthrates, with a lag of course, that depends on the free disemination of direct information, cultural deference to authority, religeous upbringing, and general immunity to "alarmest" effects.

Perhaps something as simple as the availability of milk, amount of life-threatening crime, or the simple freedom to defend oneself.