REPLY Limits to Growth Plan B (SD7064)

[SDMAIL Saeed, Khalid]

Posted by  "Saeed, Khalid" <saeed at WPI.EDU>

Mike’s summary of past patterns of population growth and other 
concomitant trends is very helpful. When it comes to formulating a 
dynamic hypothesis, my observation is that we tend to tap again the 
historical information that creates an explanation of macro-behavior in 
terms of correlations. Forrester has repeatedly posited that 
macro-behavior arises out of micro-structure and pointed to experiential 
information for delineating cause and effect relationships in 
microstructure. I surmise, the decision to have children is motivated at 
the micro level by pressure from spouses, pressure from extended family, 
emptiness in life, boredom with adult companions and associates, boredom 
with jobs, keeping up with the joneses, marketing campaigns by producers 
of toys and other un-necessary goods and services that make life with 
children appear cute, warm and full, the notion that people with 
families are more balanced and the loonies, etc. It might be further 
facilitated by maternity benefits from employers, tax relief from 
government, shared health and educations costs, baby kissing by 
politicians, etc. The question to be explored is what creates such values?
 
Khalid
Posted by  "Saeed, Khalid" <saeed at WPI.EDU>
posting date  Fri, 6 Jun 2008 09:17:25 -0400