A third of the world's population is unlikely to experience mass prosperity. With population decline in prosperous nations, what was touted as the Asian century could witness a rise in income inequality although poverty would have been mitigated on a global scale. The population issue is fundamental to both China and India and has not received the attention it merits. Since India is behind on the curve, it can avoid some of China's missteps. Stabilising the growth rate after hitting peak population is essential for an affluent society.
