The population explosion: A critical assessment

Certain population growth theorists argue that such growth is a problem that causes declines in the standard of living, food supplies, natural resources, and human health. The primary thesis of this study is to assess whether the predictions of declines in each of these areas are supported by the evidence. The predictions were analyzed by comparison with long-term, global trends, and by the use of case studies in specific instances. The results obtained from this study indicated that predictions of long-term, global socio-economic declines due to population growth were not substantiated by the evidence. Nearly every data set showed long-term global improvements in each area examined despite enormous long-term population growth. The conclusion of this study is that population growth does not automatically result in socio-economic decline over the long-term. Declines are often due to cultural and political variables, not population growth per se.