PREFACE

* Tue Suapow oF THE WorLp’s FUTURE” is an exposition
 of the consequences of the limited populationcarrying
 capacity, under various conditions, of our earth.
Founded upon a survey of its areas, of the distribution
of its present inhabitants, and of their productions, it
shows that the menace of the present rate of growth
of those inhabitants is most serious. This rate is of
the order of about 1 per cent. per annum. Starting
in 1928 with a total of say 1950 millions of human
beings, the existence of such a rate is of the gravest
significance, for, in the course even of the present
century, mankind will be involved in very great difficulties,
 for which unquestionably it is quite unprepared.
The difficulties of the near future relate specially to
food-supplies and to economic organisation. They are of
a character which does not give any ground for the hope
that they will automatically adjust themselves; there
is therefore no alternative but to face them. It is
for this reason that the population-question is of the
first order of importance for every person who has any
interest in his country’s future, or in his children and
children’s children.
The sense of unrest existing among all intelligent
peoples to-day is perhaps a precognition by the “unconscious
 mind” of coming troubles. Is it possible,
we may ask, by envisaging the grave problems of the
immediate future, to move toward a partial solution