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Switzerland May Cap Population At Ten Million
Switzerland plans on holding a referendum this summer on whether or not to cap population at ten million between now and 2050.
('The Last Castle' by Jack Vance)
If successful, the vote on June 14 would oblige the government to take measures over the next quarter-century to limit immigration to Switzerland, where the population currently stands at roughly 9 million.Supporters of the initiative say those measures should include making it harder for foreigners to gain permanent residency, once the population passes 9.5 million, and revising the country’s agreement with the European Union that allows for free movement between Switzerland and the rest of the continent. (Switzerland is not part of the E.U.)
Both the government and Parliament voted to oppose the initiative but the referendum has been triggered automatically because more than 100,000 citizens have signed a petition in support of a vote.
(Via NYTimes.)
In The Last Castle by Jack Vance, the population of Castle Hagedorn was strictly controlled:
The population of Castle Hagedorn was fixed; each gentleman and each lady was permitted a single child. If by chance another were born he must either find someone who had not yet sired to sponsor it, or dispose of it another way. The usual procedure was to give the child into the care of the Expiationists.
Although this is one of my favorite novels, I'd forgive you if you had a novel in which population control was a central fact in mind. Share it!
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 3/29/2026)
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