First do no harm

Many traditional societies, which have long survived in balance with the carrying capacity of their local environments, have recently experienced rapid rates of population growth that threaten their survival. In examining the reasons for these deleterious trends, the author notes that they have occurred despite international technological assistance, improved health care, increased literacy, democratization, and liberal immigration and refugee policies favoring developing countries. "She argues that well meant programs and policies work at cross purposes with their stated goals when they dispel motivation to exercise caution and restraint. Family size targets stay high or rise when people think that limits which formerly operated have been relieved; so a windfall of resources or emigration opportunity frequently results in a population explosion in the region supposedly being helped."