Why does the author aver that the growth of world population is one of the strongest factors distorting the future of human society?

The author thinks that the growth of world population is one of the strongest factors of distorting the future human society because growing population not only increases the demand for food but also depletes the current resources at a speed that is not recoverable. Fertility falls as incomes rise, education spreads, and health improves. Thus development is the best contraceptive. But development itself may not be possible if the present increase in numbers continues. The rich get richer, and the poor beget children which condemns them to remain poor. More children do not mean more workers, merely more people without work. It is not suggested that human beings be treated like cattle and compulsorily sterilized. But there is no alternative to voluntary family planning without introducing an element of coercion. The choice is really between control of population and perpetuation of poverty.