January 27, 2011
Population
Growth? No Problem, Says Indian Think Tank
 Barun
Mitra |
“India and the Philippines
reap benefits
of the demographic dividend of
having younger populations,”
stated the Indian market-liberal Barun Mitra, Director of
Liberty
Institute in New Delhi, during a discussion in Manila on 27
January 2011. Having described how several countries, in particular
China, had gone ”the way from choice to coercion”
he argued that China will soon face the problems of having an
aging population as a result of its one-child-policy.
Population control is often based on the argument that it is
necessary for socio-economic development, and that parents are
unable to rationally decide on their family size. The downside
of enforced population targets however is that it not leads to
an aging population but also to distortions in the gender ration
because of a preference for sons, and to greater violence against
women. “China is the first country in history to become
old before becoming rich,” Barun Mitra stated. “A
younger population is needed for a society to come up with new
and innovative ideas, and also to able to care for older citizens.
India and the Philippines will see this effect in the near future.”
However, a pre-condition for this would be free-market
reforms and improvements to the education system.
Barun Mitra spoke for a captive audience at the offices of the
FNF Manila. The meeting was chaired by Nonoy Oplas of the Minimal
Government Thinkers think tank, who also presented his new
book “Health Choices and Responsibilities”.
FNF Country Director Jules Maaten welcomed Barun Mitra’s
visit: “Population control is currently an emotive issue
in the Philippines with the Reproductive Health Bill on
the agenda. In this country we see that especially the poorest
families are very, very large. Being able to exercise free choice
is precisely the issue.”
Barun Mitra is a long-standing friend of the Foundation. He was
also hosted by FNF and its former representative Siegfried Herzog
(now based as FNF Regional Director in New Delhi) in 2006 where
Barun Mitra spoke on free
trade.
