the population explosion genesis 1:28 “god blessed them and said to them, be fruitful and increase...
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The Population ExplosionGenesis 1:28 “God Blessed them and
said to them, be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it…”
To understand how population expansion effects all inhabitants of Earth.
Thomas Malthus
• 18th century philosopher that posed a serious problem with population expansion
Thomas Malthus
• 18th century philosopher that posed a serious problem with population expansion
• While food production grows arithmetically, 2+2=4, 4+2=6, 6+2=8
Thomas Malthus
• 18th century philosopher that posed a serious problem with population expansion
• While food production grows arithmetically, 2+2=4, 4+2=6, 6+2=8
• Population grows geometrically, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 256, 65,536
Malthusian Theory
• Do you realize that it took nearly all of human history before our population doubled?
Malthusian Theory
• Do you realize that it took nearly all of human history before our population doubled?
• Since around 1500, we have doubled in size 2x, and that in the next 50 years alone we will double in size again
Malthusian Theory
• At some point, we will run out of food
Malthusian Theory
• At some point, we will run out of food• Famine, War, plaques were all “natural” ways
to control the population
Malthusian Theory
• At some point, we will run out of food• Famine, War, plaques were all “natural” ways
to control the population
• Malthus does not advocate the use of abortion, but does suggest “moral restraint”
Malthusian Theory
• The Earth is only able to sustain a certain number of people (maximum occupancy)
Malthusian Theory
• The Earth is only able to sustain a certain number of people (maximum occupancy)• Malthus predicted that in his lifetime, or
possibly the next, we would see the effects of over-population
Malthusian Theory
• The Earth is only able to sustain a certain number of people (maximum occupancy)• Malthus predicted that in his lifetime, or
possibly the next, we would see the effects of over-population
• However, we haven’t. the question is why?
Reasons We Haven’t Hit the Wall (Yet)
• 1) Industrialization has effectively decreased the size of the avg. family
Reasons We Haven’t Hit the Wall (Yet)
• 1) Industrialization has effectively decreased the size of the avg. family• In the US and Europe, our birth rate is below
our death rate
Reasons We Haven’t Hit the Wall (Yet)
• 1) Industrialization has effectively decreased the size of the avg. family• In the US and Europe, our birth rate is below
our death rate• More people dying that being born
Reasons We Haven’t Hit the Wall (Yet)
• 1) Industrialization has effectively decreased the size of the avg. family• In the US and Europe, our birth rate is below
our death rate• More people dying that being born
• However, our population has grown due to immigration
Reasons We Haven’t Hit the Wall (Yet)
• 2) Women have left the matriarchal role and entered the work place (less children)
Reasons We Haven’t Hit the Wall (Yet)
• 2) Women have left the matriarchal role and entered the work place (less children)
• 3) The Green Revolution has advanced food production beyond the arithmetic rate
Reasons We Haven’t Hit the Wall (Yet)
• 2) Women have left the matriarchal role and entered the work place (less children)
• 3) The Green Revolution has advanced food production beyond the arithmetic rate
• 4) However, it does not mean Malthus was wrong, just that his time frame was off
What does this have to do with Economics?
• 1) What does it matter, I wanted to talk about it!!!
What does this have to do with Economics?
• 1) What does it matter, I wanted to talk about it!!!
• 2) WE supply aid to over-populated countries
What does this have to do with Economics?
• 1) What does it matter, I wanted to talk about it!!!
• 2) WE supply aid to over-populated countries
• 3) Over-populated countries have dismal GDPs and economies (China)
Population NoteThe world's population doubled between 1950 and 1990, from 2.515 billion people then to 5.292 billion in 1990. Of the 2.777 billion increase, only 13.4 percent was in developed countries, with 86.6 percent in less developed countries (LDCs). The main reasons for this growth were fertility and age distribution in developed countries and both higher life expectancies and high birthrates in less developed countries. Life expectancy in developed countries rose from 65.7 years in 1950 to 1954, to 74.0 years in 1990. For LDCs, life expectancy rose from only 41.0 years in 1950 to 1954, to 62.0 years in 1990. Over that same time the number of births per woman fell from 2.84 to 1.9 in developed countries. In LDCs the rate fell from 6.18 births per woman to 3.9. But birthrates in LDCs are still high enough to contribute substantially to population growth.