The school of thought that follows Thomas Malthus predicts that as food
supplies rise, population will increase. Sen argues against the Malthusian prediction and maintains that food has been abundant in some parts of the world but population has not increased correspondingly. The alarmist predictions of those who talk about a “population bomb” have not taken place.
    Sen considers two approaches to population control, override and collaboration. He favors the collaborative approach, an approach consistent with the principle of autonomy.
    Override removes voluntary cooperation and imposes economic or legal
coercion. China’s one’s child policy illustrates the policy of override: housing is refused to families with too many children. Another example is India’s requirement of sterilization before providing any form of medical assistance, but this restraint
was voted down in democratic elections.
    Collaboration preserves voluntary cooperation. It relies on the rational choices
of individuals and encourages open dialogue and public discussion. Economic development has been associated with decreases in population, but this may be a long-term rather than a short-term solution. Increased income has been associated with decreases in population, but incomes have grown unevenly in “low-income countries.”
    Education and health care are more effective ways of reducing world
population than coercive measures.