So Many Boys, So Little Time, or [i]sex-selective abortions and infanticide[/i]

I see overpopulation at the root of many global problems. For example, each person uses resources, most notably energy and water. Wars often result from resource shortages and correct the overpopulation, but what an unsound policy. Further, fewer people die in modern technology-driven wars. Only starvation tops war on my list of dreadful methods to reduce overall population.

Sex selection may bring on these consequences even faster than overpopulation.

Doctors in England (and perhaps other countries) cannot legally disclose the sex of a fetus, but people find a way around most laws, given sufficient motivation.

As mentioned above, other countries have the same problem. What to do? India offers a solution by offering free or reduced cost education to families with only girls.

The CSM editorial writer suggests only abandoning the one-child policy. I have so little faith left in the effectiveness of any program from any government that I'm inclined to agree. China's solution: more laws. Only the wealthy and powerful will have access to the information under this plan.

Women with more education tend to have fewer children, and for this and so many other reasons education must become the world's top priority. Any other ideas, anyone?

More info and links.

Scotland, Ireland and Wales, for instance...

And yes, sex selection is going to be an issue. Interesting article.

I dislike the Indian answer, because that only affects the ratio of births. But that's my pro-feminist reflexes.

China should not abandon the one-child policy, IMHO. Frankly, it should be policy everywhere.

Let's not forget the Law of Unintended Consequences.

Not only has sex-selective abortion become rampant, but the doting and spoiling of everyone's single child will potentially have significant consequences. We're talking an entire generation of spoilt single children, the entire repository of the hopes, dreams and ambitions of their parents.

Hmmmm.

The Law of Unintended Consequences requires regular re-evaluation of all government policies. Hail Eris!

However, the myth of the only child... is... just... a myth.

How do you figure? Only the develpoing world has positive population growth, the developed world particularly Europe have massive negative population growth already without these policies.

Setting an example. It's like all these things, "do as I say, not as I do" just doesn't cut the mustard.

Ok but enforcing a policy that is sure to cut an already low birthrate lower makes absolutely 0 sense. Besides the population of the two most populous countries are headed in entirely different areas. China will stabilize and then lower slowly by the end of the century, while India's will continue to increase as they do not believe in birth control. The border of those two countries is where the next major war will most likely be fought over resources as they both modernize.

Oh my...

You're assuming a zero-immigration policy. And you're assuming we can sustain our present population. Both those assumptions are highly suspect.

And while the West doesn't enforce birth control, we'll have no leverage on India to do the same, will we. (Same argument applies to carbon dioxide emissions, BTW.)

As far as the next major war is concerned, I'm still looking at the Near and Middle East.