Difference between revisions of "Malthusian Scenarios"
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Whilst food production has expanded in the developed world, its sustainability could be jeopardized due to resources such as oil (which agriculture is heavily dependent upon) being rapidly depleted. | Whilst food production has expanded in the developed world, its sustainability could be jeopardized due to resources such as oil (which agriculture is heavily dependent upon) being rapidly depleted. | ||
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| + | If population continues to grow a Malthusian catastrophe would appear to be inevitable as there will always be a finite amount of resources from which we can make use. | ||
==Blog Posts== | ==Blog Posts== | ||
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==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
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| + | *[http://spectrum.ieee.org/robotics/robotics-software/economics-of-the-singularity/ Economic effects of the Singularity] by Robin Hanson | ||
*[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120613138379155707.html New Limits to Growth Revive Malthusian Fears] Article from The Wall Street Journal. | *[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120613138379155707.html New Limits to Growth Revive Malthusian Fears] Article from The Wall Street Journal. | ||
Revision as of 20:53, 18 June 2012
A Malthusian Scenario refers to humanity returning to an subsistence-level of existence due to population growth outpacing available resources. Originally the theory only referred to anticipated food scarcity caused by inadequate agricultural production, however “Malthusian Scenarios” now encompass the scarcity of any resource (in relation to an expanding population) that is key to maintaining society’s infrastructure.
When Malthus made his original projections his mathematical model made no allowances for improved technology or for incentives in the economic market being created due to there being a larger population.
However, the problem is exacerbated by economic growth in the developing world as this creates a populous that want to consumer more resulting in resources depleting even faster.
Whilst food production has expanded in the developed world, its sustainability could be jeopardized due to resources such as oil (which agriculture is heavily dependent upon) being rapidly depleted.
If population continues to grow a Malthusian catastrophe would appear to be inevitable as there will always be a finite amount of resources from which we can make use.
Blog Posts
- Non-Malthusian Scenarios by Wei Dai
External Links
- Economic effects of the Singularity by Robin Hanson
- New Limits to Growth Revive Malthusian Fears Article from The Wall Street Journal.
- World Agriculture 2030 Report by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- An Essay on the Principle of Population by Thomas Malthus
- Malthusian Catastrophe Wikipedia
