The myth of the population time bomb

Fertility first fell below replacement levels in 1973 , and since 2010 has fallen steadily to about 1.55 babies per woman.

In a few countries, including China and Japan , there have already been absolute population declines.

In 1939 , Viscount Samuel expressed concerns about Britain ’s falling birth rate that are similar to those expressed today .

Paul Morland has claimed that smaller populations mean the entire economic system will creak and perhaps collapse as those too old to work grow in number while those of working age shrink.

Morland , in particular, worries that population collapse is the greatest problem facing humanity’ It’s claimed that fewer people means fewer workers, which means less economic output.

A smaller national output does not necessarily result in lower living standards.

Population alarmists are guilty of conflating numbers of working-age people with numbers of workers, says Phil Mullan .

In Britain today , there are 12.3million children and 10.5million adults not in work.

There are just 11million people aged over 64 not in employment.