PeakOil is You
Anthropologist proposes link with energy use/fertility rate
Re: Anthropologist proposes link betw. energy use & fert
by bobcousins » Wed 02 Nov 2005, 11:12:26
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Doly', 'T')hat is all very logical, but how do you explain that in some poor countries people have more children than they can feed adequately?
Hey, good point.
I made the assumption that people wish to provide 100% of their child's needs. If you don't mind providing less than adequate resurces (or simply make a mistake estimating income or costs), then you may have n > I / C, in which case children may go without.
I was really trying to provide a framework in which to think about the issue, so I guess it is working. I can throw out some ideas, but I don't claim any detailed knowledge.
So the question why people have n>I/C is a real question. I accept your general point about inadequate food, but I think in some cases variability of income (e.g. war or drought affecting harvests), leads people to have kids when times are good, but 5 or 10 years later find the situation different. By then you are stuck with them. Also, lack of education may lead to poor decision making. Maybe you expect kids to be a benefit working the fields, or for dowry, or to support you in old age. I think there are many cultural reasons.
So the reason could be inadvertent. Or it may be intentional. You have more kids than you can support, because you expect to lose a few. The strong survive. This would be based on our animal instinct. Many species if not the vast majority operate that way, and it is associated with a low investment per offspring.
The alternative strategy, is to have fewer offspring and look after them more carefully.
It's all downhill from here
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Re: Anthropologist proposes link betw. energy use & fert
by Keith_McClary » Fri 04 Nov 2005, 03:05:27
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('NTBKtrader', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')hen the economy is growing strongly fertility increases. When the economy is doing relatively poorly fertility decreases.
Then by that logic the US Germany and Japan, the three strongest economies for the last few decades, would have a higher birth rate but that is in fact very untrue.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')According to her hypothesis, people increase the size of their families when they are convinced that economic opportunities are expanding
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