Book Review: Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline (2019). Darrell Bricker and John Ibbotson.

Empty Planet is a startling book in the "everything you know is wrong" genre, having to do with population growth.  

The main thesis is that all our current fears about a population crisis for the planet may be way overblown, because the major demographic effects of global urbanization, increasing wealth and education in developed societies, the rise of women as social equals and professionals in the workplace, and the loss of religious belief are to push birth rates well below replacement levels (which is about 2.1 children/woman).  

That has already happened in much of the world, and is happening rapidly now even in the less developed areas.  The authors argue that the real crisis may be in the effects of shrinking and aging populations on societies and economies.  

Lots of details and demographic analysis are included.  This is a very important book for understanding the current immigration debates and crises as well, given the potential value of increased immigration as used in some countries to compensate for population decline.  Highly recommended.