Essay on Population Growth and Standard of Living - 945 Words

Population Growth and Standard of Living Recently, the human population on this planet surpassed an amazing milestone. In the year 2000 it hit 6 billion, and without a sign of slowing down, continue to increase at an unprecedented pace. After taking nearly 3 million years to reach our first 1 billion, it has taken us only 11 years to raise our population the most recent billion (from 5 to 6). This rate of growth can be graphically interpreted as a J-shape pattern. If the past is any indication of the future, this means that while our rate of growth is high right now (a net increase of almost 87 million annually), it will continue increase to no end. But is there a limit to how big the population on Earth can truly be? While many agree†¦show more content†¦We also are currently having trouble supplying adequate housing, health care, education, and many other components of a reasonable standard of living. If we cannot provide these amenities now for 6 billion people in the world, can we expect to provide them for 8 t o 10 billion in the 21st century. (Southwick, 161) On the opposite end of the argument lie optimistic ecologists like Julian Simon. Simon believes that there is no population crisis and no environmental crisis that is due to the rapid growth of humans. He believes, in what many scientists call, a tech fix. He asserts that population growth, economic growth, and a resource rich-world coupled with modern technology will produce greater prosperity and better health for increasing numbers of people. (Soutwick, 160) Simons theory has come true before. For example, when the growth of our human population started to slow during the time of the nomad, humans realized agriculture could support more people, and thus, the Agricultural Revolution took place. In addition, advances in agricultural and industrial technology have effectively increased the size of the globe over the last two centuries, in terms of the maximum population which it will support. (Dolan, 58) That is to say, a tech fix for 8 billion people down the road might not be as ea sy, but there are plenty of brilliant minds currently in the world who could ultimately figure out a solution to the problems that an increase in populationShow MoreRelatedEssay about Can the World Sustain an Increasing Population?925 Words   |  4 Pagesattitudes to the population policy, some of them tend to delay the increase of population while others introduce policies to encourage childbirth. After centuries of continual growth, which started at the first industrial revolution, the global population reached over 7 billion individuals in 2013. Research by Ezeh, Bongaarts and Mberu (2012) states that increasing population is a threat to individuals and societies by bring problems based on unsatisfied demand. The â€Å"increasing population† in this essayRead MoreThe Current World s Population1409 Words   |  6 Pagess population is approximately seven billion people, and the amount of time that it takes for the population to increase by another billion is decreasing w ith each billion. According to the World Population Data sheet, there will be about eight billion people by the year 2020, and this is due to its continuation of growth (Southwick 159). A clear understanding of the causes and what might possibly happen is the first step to dealing with the population crisis. The world s human population hasRead MorePopulation Control1497 Words   |  6 PagesPopulation Control Population growth, a topic most likely insignificant to the common man, but the world’s population growth and control of that population growth is necessary for our overall survival. The issue has been discussed due to fear of the world becoming overpopulated. Experts and nations alike have monitored this recent growth in our population to predict any struggle that may occur before it is encountered. If the world becomes overpopulated, the limited amount of resources we haveRead MoreEssay on Economic Growth and Development894 Words   |  4 PagesEconomic growth is a necessary but not sufficient condition of economic development. There is no single definition that encompasses all the aspects of economic development. The most comprehensive definition perhaps of economic development is the one given by Todaro: ‘Development is not purely an economic phenomenon but rather a multi – dimensional process involving reorganization and re orientation of the entire economic and social system. Development is a process of improving the qualityRead MoreThe Rise Of The Standard Of Living1738 Words   |  7 Pagesare involved in the constant quest to improve their economic growth that in turn would pave a way for the increase in the standard of living. This is especially true for under-developed and developing economies that have immense growth potential and need to exploit their available resources through prudent policy measures and structural reforms to improve the standard of living of the people. However, this increase in the standard of living leads to increased consumption of goods and services that tendsRead MoreDiscuss the extent to which economic growth may benefit the economy888 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Discuss the extent to which economic growth may benefit the economy. (18) Economics growth is, it the short run an increase in real GDP and in the long run an increase in the productive capacity of an economy (the maximum output that the economy can produce). GDP stands for Gross Domestic Product which is the country’s production of goods and services valued at market price in a given time period. Real GDP is when these figures are corrected for inflation using a base year (The UK uses 2003 asRead MoreHow Growth Can Make Us Worse Off1196 Words   |  5 PagesHow growth can make us worse off by Ross Gittens Outline: This article discusses the economic growth within the australian economy and its effects. It is stated that the Australian economy’s economic growth is driven mostly by immigrants rather than natural increase. The business bible shows a growth of average of 1.42 per cent being the weakest in the past 15 years. Slower growth in the economy leads to slower growth in GDP, lower standard of living, harder to reduce budget deficit and reducedRead MoreSimilarities And Differences Between China And Australia1236 Words   |  5 PagesSimilarities and Differences between China and Australia’s Economies Introduction The Chinese and Australia economies have many similarities and differences, including the size of the economies, growth rates, unemployment, inequality, standard of living, environmental issues and the roles the different governments have in influencing and modifying these factors of the economy. Size of Economy The GDP is the total market value of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. China’s GDPRead MoreUnstable Urbanization Between The Years 2017 And 20501276 Words   |  6 PagesSingletary Dudek English IV H 2nd 9 March 2017 UNSTABLE URBANIZATION Between the years 2017 and 2050, â€Å"the United Nations projects that global population will increase significantly by nearly 2.5 billion people putting the global population at around an estimated 9 to 10 Billion people† (Jiang). In the near future it is predicted that the global urban population will nearly double if not possibly triple in size. Which will create a global imbalance in quality of life and put an even greater strain onRead MoreGlobal Environmental Issues Of The World1540 Words   |  7 Pagesbecomes more intense as the world s population—and our use of natural resources—keeps booming(1). It should be noted that there are 7 continents (Asia, Africa, South America, North America, Europe, Australia and Antarctica) and 196 countries without including sub-nations and islands in the world. This is not shocking to people as the world dynamics cannot be completely studied as population trends change from time to time due periodic occurrences. Populati on debates like this are why, in 2011, National