Source: Dasgupta, P.S. 1995. Population, poverty, and the local environment. Sci. Am. 272(2):40-46.

Partha S. Dasgupta discusses his theories on the intertwining problems of poverty, population growth, and the decline of the local environment. He argues that expanding population, escalating poverty, and destruction of the local environment creates a vicious cycle in which each problem fuels the others, locking the three in a downward spiral. Dasgupta believes there are three reasons for large family size. First are the roles of power and gender. In communities where men control the majority of household decisions, families tend to have more children. High fertility, illiteracy, and unpaid employment rates of women in Third World households all connect to deny women power and independence. Women stuck in this powerless position lack the decision-making skills to break this trap. Second is the role of tradition. In communities where large families have always been the norm, attempting to separate from the old ways may not even be considered. Finally, in countries where a family's survival depends largely on their ability to gather and tend natural resources such as firewood, water, and herded animals, many children, even at a young age, play crucial roles in the work force. This necessity creates a cyclical trap -- more children put more strain on the environment, creating the need for more children to help manage the dwindling resources. The solution according to Dasgupta is to apply policies that will make having numerous children undesirable. Also, granting political and civil liberties in poor countries has been proven to increase income per person and expand life expectancy and infant survival rates. To empower women, family planning, health services, literacy, and employment drives for women would be necessary. To aid the poverty stricken, cheap fuel and clean water must be provided. Only when a large family is more expensive to sustain than one with fewer children will there be a chance to decrease fertility rates and to curb rising population.

Abstract author: James Z. Wailand, 16 October 1996.

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