DECLINE EXPECTED BY MITCHELL IN RATE OF POPULATION INCREASE

"It is probable that the rate of population increase will decline and that it will remain stable at about 160,000,000," said Wesley G. Mitchell, chairman of former President Hoover's research committee on social trends and professor of Economics at Columbia University, when discussing the report of his Committee last night at the Union.

Two Reasons

"There are two principal reasons for this; the arrest of immigration and the increasing knowledge of contraceptives throughout the country. Although the depletion of natural resources seems to offer grave difficulties, I think that there will be a greater output per worker. This will result in a much higher standard of living, providing we can put greater weight into our economic organization. There have been many developments, such as trade unions and clearing houses, to suggest particular cases.

Only Trends

"You must bear in mind that these are only trends, and though this is the only way we can predict the future, other influences might develop which would ruin our conclusions. Marx, for example predicted the further degradation of the working man as the number of capitalists increased and Ricardo predicted that the drift of population would be towards the country. They were both wrong obviously.

Economics Naissant

"Economics is a naissant science and there is prospect of very important developments during the next few years. You ask me what I think of President Roosevelt's economic theories. His action these first weeks has been vigorous and decisive. He has seen what he should do and has supplied instantaneous action. Further than that, I would rather not make any comments, particularly as I do not feel that I sufficiently understand his entire program."

Professor Mitchell was the guest of honor at a dinner in the Union, given for him by Delmar Leighton '19, dean of the Freshmen earlier in the evening.