ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the issues and dilemmas in population policies and their relevance to program managers. The United States has a built-in advantage due to its size and wealth and a history of welcoming immigration policies. There are two parts to population policies. One is limiting the total population due to the limited resources available for support. The other part of the equation is economic growth. The economic environment of programs in the coming decades will depend upon these two factors: population growth and per capita gross domestic product growth. Demographic science is used to shape the future, for trying to improve the conditions, both social and material, of human existence. The most effective population control mechanism is the most simple and is female education, which is occurring even in the most densely populated and repressive countries. The linkage between smaller populations and lower death rates historically has been a contradiction due to infant mortality.
