Book Review

by Paul Ganderton

Independent Commission on Population and Quality of Life. 1996. Caring for the Future. Oxford University Press. pp xiv + 359. ISBN 0 19 286186 7.

The focus might have changed over the last 25 years but the notion that population pressure is a key determinant of social and environmental well-being is still powerfid. Here we have the results of a commission set up in 1991 and charged with investigating the matter. The linkage of population and quality of life sets the tone. The central idea is that population issues (wider than just simple pressure of numbers) should be central to our thinking about development. There are also clear reasons for linking population with quality of fife and sustainability. Where this report diffiers from others in a similar vein e.g. Brundfland is the explicit call for bottom-up solutions; for asserting that solutions will only work if the community involved takes part in decisionmaking.

This text puts forward some interesting ideas. It rejects the free market approach for its mequality. It argues instead for a diversity of funding. It supports increases in women's rights and education. These changes could be paid for by taxing international financial transactions. Coming as one of the latest in a fine of worthy reports it's all too easy to be cynical (e.g. calling for greater popular involvement where the committee were all older, richer and powerful). There are some excellent ideas in this book and although it would probably be beyond most school children it would provide excellent, stimulating discussion material.