Overpopulation has been correlated to some of the most overwhelming problems in the world today. Population growth has been increasing dramatically for if humans have existed, but as of more recently have been increasing more dramatically. Many theorists such as Thomas Malthus and the Cornucopians made attempts to try to better understand the trend of overpopulation. Both had very different views towards if population growth was a negative or positive effect on consumption. The true question to both is whether overpopulation or overconsumption is a bigger factor that leads to the environmental problems that are present today. While it could be said, population is growing at an exponential rate, overconsumption is the true problem of what is leading to resource scarcity. Both problems can be assessed more accurately using real world market-based and governance approaches. Many theories have been connected to how scarcity is related to either overpopulation or overconsumption. One of the main arguments for overpopulation and overconsumption was created by Thomas Malthus. Malthus stated that population grew exponentially and food sources were linearly growing by nature (Robins et al. 2014). By this accord, consumption would deteriorate the supply of food since the rates are so much more for population growth. While the argument seems sound mathematically, Malthus fails to incorporate the political or economic attributes contributing to consumption. Malthus also failed to
Population Growth is an issue that exists in today’s world that needs to be confronted before it becomes out of hand. The population itself has reached overwhelming numbers making it a problem that could turn to be dangerous. The amount of humans that the earth can support or the carrying capacity is slowly rising but at a much slower rate than the population growth rate. The increasing growth rate has its negative effects environmentally, agriculturally, socially, and economically and also has its positive effects nationally, and economically. The government is brainstorming and trying to come up with ways to decrease
The cause of human overpopulation is birth rates. The high amounts of birth rates are causing overpopulation to grow each year. Research shows in the year 2030, the population is expected to reach 8.5 billion people and 9.7 billion people in the year 2050. Developing countries is straining the already scarce resources. Intensive agriculture practices damage the environment through the use of chemical fertilizer, pesticides, and insecticides. As the population expands further, many natural resources such as fossil fuels, water, and forests continue to plummet. Lessening population will definitely solve many problems such as poverty, species becoming extinct, food shortages, water and air pollution, and even lower crime rate. High birth rates can be solved by spreading awareness, educate people about overpopulation, and increasing accessibility to birth control.
No matter how many people do claim overpopulation is not a relevant issue, it very much is because of the simple fact that starvation and pollution are very real and existing issues that are ultimately offset by overpopulation. In an article titled “Overpopulation Is Not the Problem,” author Erle C. Ellis uses the analogy “Like bacteria in a petri dish, our exploding numbers are reaching the limits of a finite planet, with dire consequences,” to argue that overpopulation is not a problem by stating the opposing claim. “We are nothing like bacteria in a petri dish,” Mr. Ellis solemnly asserts, “...these claims demonstrate a profound misunderstanding of the ecology of human systems. The conditions that sustain humanity are not natural and never have been. Since prehistory, human populations have used technologies and engineered ecosystems to sustain
Although Thomas Malthus is often criticized for his “radical” ideas about overpopulation, they may not be as radical as you think. Neo-Malthusian is the ambiguous label dubbed to those who are simply aware enough to realize the ever-so-present problem of a continuously growing population. As we look around at our daily life in the U.S., it is apparent that homelessness, poverty and hunger are issues being faced every day. We can’t walk down the street without seeing a beggar desperate for money and you or someone you know may have dealt with a layoff or cutback in work. How is that we claim to have so many available resources and yet there are people all over the country lacking proper health and a sustainable lifestyle? Shouldn’t we be more
In 18th century Europe was ripe from the Industrial Revolution. The world was taking on a more optimistic thinking. However, Thomas Malthus turned against this notion with a pessimist view of population growth. The reproduction of humans and the depletion of food were evident and are still evident today. The world is becoming more populous and with it more prosperous; humans as a whole are consuming more food, water, and natural resources than ever. In Malthus’ time the same
One of the largest of these arguments today’s society sparks from the rapid increase in the world’s population. Many viewpoints on this debate exist, and two views in particular contradict each other. These viewpoints include those of Garret Hardin and Julian L. Simon. Hardin’s view is expressed in “The Tragedy of the Commons,” and Simon’s in “More People, Greater Wealth, More Resources, Healthier Environment.” These debate problems and solutions of the growing population, including the use of natural resources in order to supply the world’s growing population.
Malthusianism was a movement that was begun by Robert Malthus in 1789 that had a big impact on the thinking, and teachings of many great geologists, and scientists. All of the men in this paper believe in this idea that population growth is going to grow faster than the growth of food, but they all have different solutions, and thoughts on the matter. Some believe that population is so out of control that we must contain it, and even find ways to drastically slow it down, while others believe that we need things like aggregate demand in order to keep the growing populations employed and not homeless.
In the late eighteenth century, Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus described how human population, when unchecked, grows exponentially while resources (specifically food) exhibits arithmetical growth (Moseley, Perramond, Hapkie, & Laris, 2014). Malthus primarily blamed the poor for high fertility rates and argued for the abolishment of all welfare, believing that if the poor succumbed to the negative effects of poverty, overpopulation could be stopped. While this may seem a distasteful solution to modern environmentalists, one cannot completely erase population from the environmentalist equation. Despite the technological advances that rendered much of Malthus' musings passé, one cannot ignore the idea that the carrying capacity of earth loom unknown
Many years ago, Aristotle discussed about the best size for a city, and arrived at a conclusion that “a big increase in the number of population would bring a level of poverty on the citizenry. Poverty will be the cause of all evils including sedition” (Overpopulation: Environmental and Social Problems, 2010). According to studies, human population is expected to reach 9 billion by the year 2050. On the economics point of view, as global population is predicted to grow and more countries become more developed, the demand for natural resources will also increase and may be greater than the supply. Much of the growth in population will also have strong economic growth, and this will occur in developing countries. As the per-capita income of these nations increase, the demand for raw materials for use in electronics, military, farming and urban development will also increase. Because of the global warming issue, green energy and green tech production are expected to rise in developed countries. Unfortunately, future supply of these natural resources may not be able to meet the increasing demand (Supply and Demand, 2013). This essay aims to explain what things could happen to the world if the demand for natural resources becomes greater than its supply due to overpopulation. Does overpopulation causes the demand for natural resources to be greater than the supply, and what things could happen as a consequence for this? Yes, overpopulation results in higher demand for natural
In Ireland in the 1720’s, poverty and overpopulation were at a problematic rate. Many of the people who lived in England were exiled to Ireland. Many of these Englishmen felt mistreated and wronged. Ireland was a colony to England. The people of England had more money and power than the people of Ireland because England controlled Ireland.
The issues of overpopulation, consumption and resource depletion are, of course, inextricably interrelated. After all, more people mean more mouths to feed, water to drink and air to breathe. Indeed, increased population levels naturally result in
Overpopulation, which is the increase of human population on Earth, is one of the most harmful environmental problems going on in today's society. As the rate of deaths has decreased, the rate of births has gone up drastically. As the human population grows more in quantity in little time, there are numerous effects that it is having on production for human necessities that later harm the Earth. This is truly a problem as studies show that by 2025, almost half of the world will be facing problems with access to freshwater and 70% of all freshwater on Earth will be going towards human demand. Later on, this can evolve into many other problems that can lead to, as shown by studies, the next mass extinction. The origin of this problem all started out during the Industrial Revolution. As said by many, the Industrial Revolution changed the face of the planet. As more buildings and jobs were made, more people worked and got paid better and had the opportunity to have children because they were finally able to sustain them. Greater food production, new medicines, and better sanitation are some of the many factors that led to higher birth rates and lower death rates. Overpopulation on Earth is a problem to humans because of the negative effects on human necessities leading to climate change.
The topic of overpopulation has different perspectives regarding whether or not it is happening as well as its apparent effects of both the environment and its inhabitants. The idea of human overpopulation being a problem most clearly begins around the time of Thomas Robert Malthus’ publishing of An Essay on the Principle of Population as It Affects the Future Improvement of Society, with Remarks on the Speculations of Mr. Godwin, M. Condorcet, and Other Writers. In his writing, Malthus describes how the growth of the human population will always outgrow the resources required to maintain it. “The increase of population will take place, if unchecked, in a geometric progression, while the means of subsistence will increase in only an
Even though some say that Malthus’s theory was correct, I believe that Malthus’s theory on global overpopulation was wrong. Malthus’s theory was wrong because he didn't see the future of technology, birth rates or what the global population would look like in the future. However, even though I believe that Malthus's theories weren't correct a few hundred years ago, doesn't mean that they will always be incorrect.
Not everyone admits that the world is getting overpopulated each day. The truth is that; there are real issues that are contributing to the expansion of population, one being food supplies. The World Resources Institute asserts that, by 2050, the population will have gone up by 34%. It means that, there will be an addition of 2.3 billion people on earth. The datum that the population world-wide was 2.5 billion in 1950, the assertion posts a great danger a head since the earth is only one. Therefore, this paper will discuss the growth pressures that exist on world resources as well as its significance and steps that ought to be taken to control it.