Maiden Mother Matriarch with Louise Perry Depopulation is coming. What happens next? | Maiden Mother Matriarch 183
Feb 8, 2026
Dean Spears, an economist and demographer who studies population trends and co‑authored After the Spike, discusses imminent global depopulation. He explains why small fertility shifts compound into rapid decline. They compare the industrial‑era population spike to a possible steep downslope, explore policy and economic consequences, and consider how societies might make parenting more attractive.
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Low Fertility Is A Global, Cross‑Culture Phenomenon
- Low fertility is geographically widespread across cultures, income levels, and political contexts.
- This ubiquity suggests deep, global drivers rather than localized causes.
People + Policy Shape Environmental Impact
- Environmental harm depends more on per‑person impacts and policy choices than sheer population size.
- Historical pollution problems fell despite population growth when technology and regulation changed.
China Cut Pollution Even As Population Grew
- China halved particle air pollution in the decade after its 2013 'airpocalypse' despite adding 50 million people that decade.
- This shows strong policy and technology can decouple population growth from pollution trends.
