Population control is the practice of limiting population increase, usually by reucing the birth rate. The practice has sometimes been voluntary, as a response to poverty, environmental concerns, or out of religious ideology, but in some times and places it has been socially-mandated. This is generally conducted to improve quality of life for a society or as a solution to overpopulation. While population control can involve measures that improve peoples lives, giving them greater control of their reproduction some programs have exposed them to exploitation.