Brian Ahern <ahern_br...@msn.com> wrote: > > The uncontrolled birth rates in Africa will overwhelm any possibility of > UBI there. > Birth rates and infant mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa are the same as they were in the U.S. in 1963. I would describe that as high, but not out of control. The rates are far lower than they were in the 1987, the peak of population growth. The key statistic is the population cohort from 0 to 14 years of age. It that remains stable then overall growth will stop when the current generation of children reaches old age. See:
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.0014.TO.ZS?locations=ZG It is much lower in northern Africa: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.0014.TO.ZS?locations=ZQ For the world as a whole, population growth is slowing and will stop completely if the current trends continue. Some countries are gaining while others lose, but overall the 0 to 14 cohort is stable at 26%. Explosive growth stopped in 1965: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.GROW?locations=1W Extreme poverty worldwide has decreased drastically, from 42 million in 1981 to 12 million today. It continues to decline. It will be extinct in a generation if trends continue: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.DDAY?locations=1W&start=1981&end=2013&view=chart The birthrate per 1000 people has fallen from 27 to 20 during that time. Per woman it is at 2.4, which is close to the replacement rate. It was 3.8 in 1981. There has been great progress reducing population growth and poverty. Third world literacy is 80% and growing rapidly. You should be optimistic. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FACK2knC08E - Jed
