(2 of 2)
U. S. Trends. Because the U. S. still has a disproportionate number of young people, the country will still have an excess of births over deaths for a number of years. At present births are somewhat above replacement level. But since the trend in the birth rate has been downward for the past hundred years, in a generation births will be from 20 to 35% under re placement level. The elements of a popu lation program are contained in the Gov ernment's interest in public education, housing, recreation facilities, health & welfare organizations — all of which lessen the economic burden of having children. But these programs are all uncoordinated. Because "in an industrial society large families lead inevitably to lower levels of living for all but a few favored parents," Frederick Osborn believes the only sound population policy stresses "freedom of parenthood" — freedom not to have chil dren unless they are wanted, and freedom (with the aid of services rendered to mothers and children by the State) for responsible parents to have children with out their being an economic burden.
Last week, Frederick Osborn started a new job: $1-a-year population consultant for the Division of Statistical Standards. In Washington, his work will consist of determining the effect of such govern mental innovations as Rural Resettlement, TVA. First problem: Do improved en vironments stimulate birth rates?