There is no such thing as overpopulation.  Population itself has never been the issue, nor is it something that requires “solving” through human intervention.  In fact, the notion that population growth poses a threat has long been used as a justification for politicians to seize more power and collect more money, all in the name of addressing a phantom problem.  The real limitation on population has always been tied to production—how much society can produce to sustain itself.  This is naturally regulated, requiring no political interference.

The ability to produce efficiently depends on the respect for private property and the freedom to save and invest in tools and capital goods.  These are the conditions that allow humans to maximize their productive capacity.  When people speak of shortages or limits, they forget that production is a function of human ingenuity, time preferences, and the ability to accumulate and save.  The existence of available goods, a fact often taken for granted in modern society, is the result of lower time preferences and prudent savings.

Imagine Crusoe, stranded on an island, catching fish with his hands.  In order to improve his chances of survival, he must save some of his catch to build a fishing net.  The net— a capital good—will allow him to fish more efficiently and secure a better future.  However, if Crusoe has a higher time preference, focused solely on immediate consumption, the net will never come into existence, and his survival will be in constant jeopardy.  The population of the island, whether it’s just Crusoe or an entire group of castaways, will always be limited by how much they can produce.  The challenge is not the number of people; it’s the tools and savings necessary for survival.

Now, introduce another person, Friday.  If Friday constantly robs Crusoe of his saved fish, Crusoe’s ability to produce a net is sabotaged.  The island’s population is not the problem—Friday’s parasitism is.  The issue is not the number of people, but rather the presence of those who exploit and confiscate what others produce, draining society’s productive capacity.

In the larger world, the same principles apply.  Population levels are never an inherent problem.  The true constraint on human well-being comes from artificial barriers—specifically, the parasitic individuals and systems that rob society of its productive potential.  These constraints, in the form of taxes, regulations, and political coercion, hinder growth and make survival harder for everyone.  The greater the exploitation, the more difficult it becomes for society to thrive.

The problem is not one of population numbers, but rather the rising number of parasites in society—those who take without producing.  When you are constantly robbed of your savings and the fruits of your labor, your ability to save, invest, and produce for the future diminishes.  No amount of clever slogans or political rhetoric can change this reality.  The path to growth is found in production and savings, not in the multiplication of those who drain the resources of productive individuals.

In the end, depopulation or overpopulation is a distraction from the real issue: the artificial constraints imposed on society by those who live off others’ efforts.  The more we focus on “solving” the non-existent problem of population, the more we overlook the real threat to human prosperity—those who rob us of the chance to produce and grow.