Free trade, left ungoverned, can yield the infamous "race to the bottom," dragging down environmental standards and wages in affluent nations.

This is not the case to the same extent in the majority of affluent nations in the world.

The bishops argue that affluent nations are seeking to restrict births in the third world to avoid having to share their riches.

Traveling across western Africa recently, he begged affluent nations "not to scorn" that continent's hungry millions.

"This is the most affluent nation on the face of the earth."

True, there is a constant whine about the quality of public services, but that is common to all affluent nations.

And we live in a secure, affluent nation in which he can take his time to become a man.

The size of the stake depends on a country's economy, with affluent nations allowed to pay for larger stakes and then borrow more money.

In the affluent nations, he writes, "most people have enough to eat and are reasonably well housed.

We can see the results today: a birth dearth among the affluent nations, and baby booms across the Third World.