Global population rising: two of the sides to the story

Population growth has many different causes, benefits and drains, however the two fundamental population growth theories were proposed by economists Thomas Robert Malthus and Ester Boserup.

In 1950 the global population was 2 billion, now quadrupled to over 8 billion. And the UN predicts that it will peak at 10.4 billion by the 2080s. In the last decade we have been to space, created computers, then laptops, then mobile phones. Contraception, vaccines, HIV treatment. Just a few of the incredible medical innovations. The global economy has grown and global poverty is the lowest it has ever been. 

The Malthusian population theory coined by Thomas Malthus is a theory that as the human population will eventually hit a point of crisis. When our natural resources of food, water and energy are so

depleted that they can no longer supply for the global population, leading to famine, political unrest and conflict. 

Malthusian population theory - graph by Elena Roberts

However, the opposing, and more optimistic theory is the Boserup theory is that as the human population grows, we will create new technologies so that we can accommodate the growing population. For example we have created technologies and changed systems so that agriculture is more efficient and sustainable. We have created technologies such as desalination to provide more people with access to potable water. We are living in an era of technological innovation, mitigation and adaptation to the forever arising global consequences of climate change. 

Boserup population theory model - innovation lead to sustainability of resources to accommodate to population growth - graph by Elena Roberts

The point of ‘The Future of’ is to get you to think, to be inspired to make a positive change. To create solutions and see every perspective. 

We'd love to see what you think of population growth - the arising challenges and how you would fix them?