Virginia D. Abernethy

Virginia D. Abernethy

"Born in Cuba and raised there, Argentina, and New York City, I retired as Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry (Anthropology) at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. I remain an active Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS].

"For ten years until 1999 I edited the academic journal, Population and Environment. Publications include Population Pressure and Cultural Adjustment, which introduced the "fertility opportunity hypothesis"; Population Politics, which updates the hypothesis and adds the bulk of supporting data; and academic and popular articles. Harvard University [PhD], Vanderbilt University [MBA], Wellesley College [B.A.], Riverdale Country School, P.S. 81, and Northlands deserve due credit but are not responsible for anything here to which they would object.

"My business as a scientist is to notice patterns that may lead, eventually, to a hypothesis. The fertility opportunity hypothesis is the result of noticing that people welcome a larger family size when economic opportunity appears to be expanding. On the contrary, perception of stagnant, contracting, or very competitive economic conditions leads to limiting family size. Much cross-cultural and historic data support this explanation of causality...

"Interests include geopolitics, especially the domestic and world economy and immigration policy. Debates on these issues are usually enjoyable. Gentleman William Buckley made memorable an appearance on "Firing Line" where I debated the late Robert Bartley, open-borders advocate and then-editor of the Wall Street Journal.

"Volunteer activities are principally Board membership for the 501(c)3 organizations, Population-Environment Balance and Carrying Capacity Network. I am on the Editorial Advisory Board of The Occidental Quarterly and The Occidental Observer.  In desultory fashion, I "bird" and garden, mostly taking time to admire the beauty and marvel of Nature."


 * Editorial Advisory Board, The Occidental Quarterly