Population Growth Essay
Population Growth
Over time, human population has increased and unfortunately has caused a lot of problems to the
economy as well as to the environment. Many of the issues that population growth has affected are
climate changes, consumption and waste, family planning, poverty, food and hunger, and changes to
the economy. According to data researched by the United Nations, "the world population will reach 8
billion to 10 billion by the year 2030" (Livi–Bacci: 1992:31–32 cited in Robbins, 2010:130). Eight to
ten billion is a lot of people living in the world, which unfortunately might cause more problems than
solutions to these issues. The book written by author Richard H. Robbins, Global Problems and the
Culture of Capitalism, includes an...show more content...
(Malthus 1798 cited in Robbins, 2010:132). This view was known as the "Malthusian trap"
(Mshahara, 2017). Everything is related to one another, and if one thing changes, then usually the
other things will too. As Robbins expressed that Malthus' view was seen in Europe, the demand
for food decreased, the population decreased, mortality decreased, and then right after, a rise in
population occurred (Robbins, 2010: 157). Another issue that has caused the environment to
change is deforestation. The land gets cleared for agriculture purposes, to provide room for
growing crops, grazing livestock and urban uses. As explained by Robbins, agriculturists would
clear a few acres of land by cutting down the trees and burning them in a process known as "slash
and burn" (Robbins, 2010: 157). As individuals can see, population growth has done some negative
changes to the earth.
Another result that has occurred from population growth is a change in consumption and waste. This
subject has arguments on population growth hindering economic development as well as not
affecting it at all. As argued by Robbins, (Robbins 2010: 133–134) population growth has caused a
high demand for resources, such as water, food, and fuel. With population growing, that is why some
communities are dealing with famine, poverty and an increase in mortality rates. According to
Massimi Livi–Bacci, (Livi–Bacci, 1992: 145 cited in Robbins, 2010: 134) population growth has not
had an effect on the economy.
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