The Benefits of Reducing World Population Essay -- Argumentative Persu

The Benefits of Reducing World Population Scientist Julian Simon asserted in 1992 that population growth, perceived by many to be a growing crisis, was in fact a huge boon to society. Simon countered the common argument that overpopulation would result in miserable, deteriorating living conditions by postulating 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" (Southwick, p. 160). Given the fact that more people today are living in misery and poverty than ever, Simon's picturesque world has gone largely unsupported (Southwick, p. 161). Recent news that the population boom is currently on hold then, should come as great news to the greater portion of individuals in the world. Rather than 12 to 14 billion world inhabitants in the mid-twenty first century, recent figures project a decline from roughly nine billion people in 2050. The shrinking of the world population will almost undoubtedly creat e drastic economic and political changes (Wattenberg, p.1). These predicted changes, though, seem minor in comparison to the poor environmental state that most agreed would be reached if the population boom continued in the same manner. It seems as though the shrinking of the world population will allow for the existence of fewer billions of people with more abundant resources and a better quality environment rather than the existence of "10 to 15 billion people living in poverty and malnourishment" (Southwick, p. 161). For the past five years the United Nations has witnessed a trend in fertility rates that will alter the face of the globe. Rather than a fertility rate of 2.1, which was the assumed worl... ...once feared rate. Sources: Dolan, Edwin G., Ch. 5 from "TANSTAAFL: The Economic Strategy for Environmental Crisis" 1974 Hansen, J., Ruedy, R., Sato, M., & Lo, K. (2002). "Global Warming Continues." Science, 295, 275. Kerr, R. A. (2002). "A Brighter Outlook for Good Ozone." Science, 297, 1623-5. NPR Radio Broadcast, March 17, 2002. http://discover.npr.org/features/feature.jhtml?wfId=1140067 Poliakoff, M., Fitzpatrick, J. M., Farren, T. R., & Anastas, P. T. (2002). "Green Chemistry: Science and Politics of Change." Science, 297, 807-810. Quay, P. (2002). "Ups and Downs of CO2 Uptake." Science, 298, 2344. Southwick, C. H. (1996). "Chapter 15: Human Populations." Global Ecology in Human Perspective. Oxford University Press, 159-182. Wattenberg, B. J. (March 8, 2003). "It Will Be a Smaller World After All." New York Times: Editorial/Op-Ed Section. The Benefits of Reducing World Population Essay -- Argumentative Persu The Benefits of Reducing World Population Scientist Julian Simon asserted in 1992 that population growth, perceived by many to be a growing crisis, was in fact a huge boon to society. Simon countered the common argument that overpopulation would result in miserable, deteriorating living conditions by postulating 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" (Southwick, p. 160). Given the fact that more people today are living in misery and poverty than ever, Simon's picturesque world has gone largely unsupported (Southwick, p. 161). Recent news that the population boom is currently on hold then, should come as great news to the greater portion of individuals in the world. Rather than 12 to 14 billion world inhabitants in the mid-twenty first century, recent figures project a decline from roughly nine billion people in 2050. The shrinking of the world population will almost undoubtedly creat e drastic economic and political changes (Wattenberg, p.1). These predicted changes, though, seem minor in comparison to the poor environmental state that most agreed would be reached if the population boom continued in the same manner. It seems as though the shrinking of the world population will allow for the existence of fewer billions of people with more abundant resources and a better quality environment rather than the existence of "10 to 15 billion people living in poverty and malnourishment" (Southwick, p. 161). For the past five years the United Nations has witnessed a trend in fertility rates that will alter the face of the globe. Rather than a fertility rate of 2.1, which was the assumed worl... ...once feared rate. Sources: Dolan, Edwin G., Ch. 5 from "TANSTAAFL: The Economic Strategy for Environmental Crisis" 1974 Hansen, J., Ruedy, R., Sato, M., & Lo, K. (2002). "Global Warming Continues." Science, 295, 275. Kerr, R. A. (2002). "A Brighter Outlook for Good Ozone." Science, 297, 1623-5. NPR Radio Broadcast, March 17, 2002. http://discover.npr.org/features/feature.jhtml?wfId=1140067 Poliakoff, M., Fitzpatrick, J. M., Farren, T. R., & Anastas, P. T. (2002). "Green Chemistry: Science and Politics of Change." Science, 297, 807-810. Quay, P. (2002). "Ups and Downs of CO2 Uptake." Science, 298, 2344. Southwick, C. H. (1996). "Chapter 15: Human Populations." Global Ecology in Human Perspective. Oxford University Press, 159-182. Wattenberg, B. J. (March 8, 2003). "It Will Be a Smaller World After All." New York Times: Editorial/Op-Ed Section.