Le Bourgmestre et la limitation des naissances

Paper (in French) about the public debate that took place in november 2012, after remarks made by the mayor of Brussels on population control. I analyze the main intuitions underlying this passionate (rejection of a) debate, which we encounter in many debates about population control. We have to distinguish between two types of claims about population. 1) the diagnosis: is there a population problem? 2) the cure: what kind of action should the government take? Both questions have normative and emperical aspects. Distinguishing between these levels at which arguments can play, can help to avoid blockage of the debate. In the conclusions I propose reasons to have a more open debate on this sensitive issue.