Perspectives on population growth

When was Malthus’s argument?

1798.

When was Boserups argument?

1965 - optimistic.

When was Ehrlich’s argument?

1968 - Neo-Malthusian/pessimistic.

When was the Club of Rome argument?

1972 - Neo-Malthusian/pessimistic

When was Simons argument?

1981 - optimistic.

What did Ehrlich argue?

• Wrote the ‘population bomb’.

• Believed many of problems caused by population have materialized.

What did the Club of Rome argue?

• International team put forward ‘limits to growth'.

• Reports stated if trends in population growth continue unchanged, limits to growth on Watch would be reached in next 100 years.

What did Simon argue?

Julian Simon continued debate that ‘necessity is the mother of invention.

Suggested at times of scarcity the greatest gains could be made.

What evidence supports the Malthusian and Neo-Malthusian views?

• Gained much support in 1960s as global pop. experienced rapid growth phase.

• Ehrlich’s book predicted starvation of millions by 1970s.

• At least 600 million predicted to be undernourished was true. 780 million.

What evidence supports the optimistic perspectives?

• Intensification of farming in Europe in response to food shortages during WWII.

• Green Revolution in Mexico, South and South East Asia.

• Genetic modification developments.