Hypothetically, would capping populations of cities and towns be a better way to utilize resources as well as distribute resources so everyone can have a basic quality of life?
There are pros and cons to this..it is certainly an over reach of govt, but that exists now too in a different way.
As a thought experiment, would this help to develop model self sustaining cities?
Isn't that what many cities in the US are doing with their zoning laws? The "cap" is being enforced by the number of housing units that's available (although not perfectly), and the result is that the housing units available are rented/sold to the highest bidder. Whether that resulted in "everyone can have a basic quality of life" is... doubtful.