From Geoff Harding, Sydney, Australia
Apart from the environmental destruction of the planet, perhaps the greatest tragedy for humanity is extreme and rising inequality. So it is essential to ask whether it can be alleviated or reversed by the falling birthrate highlighted in the book you review, After the Spike. Fewer children should allow greater opportunities for the best possible education at every level, with smaller class sizes and less pressure on resources. The consequent reduced population of workers should result in higher wages and greater choice in employment. The problem in many countries of unaffordable (for many) housing due to overpopulation and inadequate supply would be alleviated and ultimately eliminated. Best that governments adjust to the inevitability of falling birthrate and its positives rather than attempting to prevent it(12 July, p 26).
