One billion Americans : the case for thinking bigger / Matthew Yglesias.

Includes bibliographical references.

"A bold case for massive population growth in the name of national greatness--from Vox co-founder and host of "The Weeds" podcast Matt Yglesias. America is in decline. Fewer children are born each year due to financial pressure. Thousands flee our iconic cities with their housing shortages and broken infrastructure. While we tie ourselves into knots trying to stop the flow of immigrants, our exhausted economy deflates the heartland's already shrinking population. To survive China's impending global takeover (not to mention Russia), we can't afford to be weak. We need to get bigger, much bigger. We need one billion Americans. In this timely and provocative book, Matthew Yglesias makes the case for massive population growth through humane family and immigration policy. Of course, more people requires more housing, not to mention better transportation, improved education, a revitalized welfare system, and climate change mitigation. Why not do it all, and stay on top forever? Written with Yglesias's signature humor and analytic rigor, One Billion Americans challenges readers across the political spectrum to take decline seriously. Drawing on economic theory and research from leading policy experts, he offers ideas from around the globe--from Singapore's approach to traffic jams to Canada's town planning--that move us beyond left-right divides, to explore the practical and creative solutions our times call for"-- Provided by publisher.

What would actually make America great: more people. If the most challenging crisis in living memory has shown us anything, it's that America has lost the will and the means to lead. We can't compete with the huge clusters of the global marketplace with our crumbling transit and unaffordable housing- or by letting our population diminish. Exactly how many Americans do we need to win? According to Matthew Yglesias, one billion. One Billion Americans is the provocative yet logical argument that if we aren't moving forward, we're losing. Vox cofounder Yglesias invites us to think bigger, while taking the problems of decline seriously. What really contributes to national prosperity should not be controversial: supporting parents and children, welcoming immigrants and their contributions, and exploring creative policies that support growth- like more housing, better transportation, improved education, revitalized welfare, and climate change mitigation. Drawing on examples and solutions from around the world, Yglesias shows not only that we can do this, but why we must.--taken from book jacket

Introduction: America is too small -- The problem. A very short history of American power -- America is empty -- The dismal economics of child rearing -- The solution. Taking families seriously -- More and better immigrants -- Comeback cities -- We can have nice things. Curing housing scarcity -- Getting around -- A land of plenty -- Epilogue: We the (not enough) people.