The Utah Population and Environment Council (UPEC) encourages you to attend a roundtable presentation on Monday Oct. 21 starting at 7 pm. We will be meeting in the basement of the SLC Library, Conference Room B.
Come hear UPEC Board Member and University of Utah economist Steve Bannister discuss the results of UPEC”s white paper, “Utah’s Fertility Decline: Richer Lives for All.”
Did you know that Utah’s total fertility rate – the average number of babies born per woman over her lifetime – is at a new low of 2.1? This figure is the “replacement rate.” Barring unlikely, dramatic changes, Utah has already reached the tipping point that will lead eventually to lower population levels. This is good news. The crucial point of this white paper is that we need not become any less rich per capita as we enjoy the ecological and aesthetic benefits of a smaller population.
There will be a presentation of the white paper followed by discussion.
Steve Bannister is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Utah. He focuses on Econometrics, Economic History, and Economic Development.
Roundtable Presentation
When: Monday October 21 • 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Where: SLC Public Library • Basement Level • Conference Room B
UPEC's Andrew Schoenberg concludes that "the prediction of the Utah population doubling makes it even more important that most of us reduce our additions to air pollution and global warming gases by switching to fuel efficient vehicles such as EVs and PHEVs."
The paper coincides with the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference, being held in Salt Lake City August 26-28. The theme of this conference is “Building Inclusive and Sustainable Cities and Communities.” At this conference, the Population Connection, a national organization, will incorporate results from UPEC’s new study into its presentations and workshops.
Utah’s Fertility Decline: Richer Lives for All
“Utah’s Fertility Decline: Richer Lives for All” provides a unique perspective on Utah’s declining fertility rate and future inevitable decline in population growth rates. (Like nearly everywhere in the wealthy nations, Utah’s fertility rate is declining, albeit from the starting point of nearly the highest rate in the United States.) While acknowledging the structural changes a slowing and eventually declining population will impose on Utah, the paper highlights the many positive outcomes of the state’s (and global) population trends.
Utah is growing too fast, and getting too crowded
Utah is growing too fast, and getting too crowded, but luckily we need not subscribe to the dominant, often little-thought-through fallback position in our state that we need ever more people and companies to keep our economy strong. Indeed, the white paper details how slowing population growth — and eventual population stabilization — will not hurt per capita gains in living standards, which, since the Industrial Revolution, have grown nearly unceasingly regardless of demographic conditions. As we continue to enjoy per capita wealth gains, slowing population growth will produce numerous environmental and quality-of-life benefits, from reduced CO2 emissions to less pressure on public lands to — especially here in Utah — better air quality and less traffic in the canyons on powder days.
