Hi Dr. people in developed countries have less children. There is a correlation between a high standard of living and less number of children born. Most likely has to do more with humans with more money having more individual choice and freedom… humans rarely want the “right” thing 😂
Discussion
There's a much-touted correlation between increased living standards / productivity and lower birthrates.
But there's a lag of about two generations.
Which is about the duration required for parasites, loan sharks and bureaucrats to infest and soak up all the productivity gains and tip quality of life and financial security downwards again.
David Ricardo observed circa 1800 that people of all social classes only settled down and married once they had the same financial security that their parents had.
Still true, except for some very religious communities.
If you could control the value of the money, you could set population size to whatever level your heart desires. If you believe earth is too full and we need to take drastic action to make the weather better, you’d engineer the outcome we see today.