Population

The next time you read about some scientist making long term predictions consider the problem of population. For years the experts said the world was heading toward over population and that in fact it was threat to world stability. Fertility rates show the number of births per woman and 2.1 is necessary to maintain a population. This rate has been declining since 1970 when it was 4.5 and today it is 2.2 and is projected to reach 1.8 by 2050. The experts are now predicting a shortage of people. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the older people are living longer and there are not enough young people to support them.