Under Population, Not Overpopulation - Research Paper Example

CIA World Factbook estimates the fertility rate in the United s (US) to be 2.05. This brings the population growth rate to a mere 0.975% (2009). Considering the growing trend of diseases like HIV and Cancer, increasing deaths through crimes, and the rising lack of interest amongst the younger generation to bind oneself in the bond of marriage, a time may come when the population growth of the US, similar to some European Countries, would become negative.

This would have deadly repercussions at all levels. A decrease in the population growth rate will cause the age structure to become more aged. Consequently, the population percentage of teenagers and middle-aged people would decline. It is this age group that constitutes the working class of a country. A shorter workforce would result in a decrease in a nation’s productivity and a nation’s total output. The lesser inflow of earnings into the state treasury would, thereby, have disastrous consequences on the economy.

The very situation, currently, plagues the European Nations at large, ascertained by the fact, “European nations will experience severe worker shortages with a loss of 20 million workers by the year 2030 if the current birth rate continues (Eberstadt, 2000).” At the same time, there will be a larger percentage of old people availing of the subsidized social services, drawing pensions, hospital insurances, etc. A greater population at the receiving end (old people) and a smaller population at the giving end (workforce) would ultimately cause insolvency of the social insurance programs.

The government would literally go broke paying for the consumers who will be nothing but a burden on the country.