[kaycebasques]

That seems implicitly related to reducing population. E.g. I’ve heard that hunter-gatherers adjusted their populations depending on whether there was lean or bountiful food. What you’re mentioning seems to be the modern equivalent of that.

[phamilton]

> hunter-gatherers adjusted their populations depending on whether there was lean or bountiful food

I almost feel like that's self regulating. Scarcity of food results in malnourishment which if it doesn't kill anyone directly, will result in other sickness being more likely to kill people. Same with children surviving to adulthood.

[zasz]

It is, but some foraging societies used infanticide as well.