title: A strategy for reducing numbers? Response.
abstract: I am not particularly knowledgeable on the subject-matter of this  article; but would like to make brief comments from the broad economic  point of view.  The concept of a demographic 'trap' is not sound.  For  one thing, this concept completely ignores the possibility of 'trade'  in food by implicitly assuming that the capacity of a community to  support its population depends on its own output of food through  appropriate economic policies.  There were many predictions of  disastrous famines in India in the early 70s on the basis of  considerations such as those advanced by Dr Ding.  Amartya Sen has  argued, quite plausibly, that famines occur because of maldistribution  of food and lack of adequate 'safety nets' rather than a decline in  total food output.  Sen is referred to at 1 place in the article; but  somewhat out of context.  The conclusion that if the birth rate does  not fall, the death rate should also not be allowed to fall is  repugnant.  Look at the countries of Latin America; population growth  is high, but there is no 'entrapment'.  The so called 'trap' can, of  course, occur because of failure of economic and social policies and  international economic policies.  However, there is nothing inevitable  about it (at any given rate of population growth).  The author's plea  for greater information and public education in respect of demographic  trends and consequences is valid.  There is also an urgent need for a  new thrust in family planning programs on wider economic and social  grounds.  However, this case is quite independent of the 'entrapment'  theory.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jalan
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003710:Demography; D003906:Developing Countries; D004467:Economics; D004777:Environment; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005523:Food Supply; D006285:Health Planning; D007194:India; D011153:Population; D011640:Public Policy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013217:Starvation
keywords: Asia; Demographic Factors; Developing Countries; Development Policy; Economic Factors; Environment; Family Planning; Family Planning Programs; Famine; Food Supply--changes; India; Natural Resources; Policy; Population; Socioeconomic Factors; Southern Asia