4 ms·

its really amazing how Malthusian ideology is so pervasive in public thought, when the data shows that it is wrong just about everywhere you look. Even India's

its really amazing how Malthusian ideology is so pervasive in public thought, when the data shows that it is wrong just about everywhere you look. Even India's population growth rate is going down (has been going down since the late 1970s, source: google india population growth rate chart), and they are the poster child for population growth. Japan was the first country to post a population loss, but other countries will follow shortly

travisoneill1 8y ago
Resources are finite. A certain number of people will overwhelm the availability of resources. The fact that we are currently below that number does not make the theory wrong.
GreeniFi 8y ago
Africa is the concern on the population front. I sort of feel we need Malthusian pessimists to warm us when we are heading for the cliff. The Green Revolution, and what it achieved in India and elsewhere, was achieved in substantial part through public investment in research. I guess we’re all rather glad we didn’t continue blithely believing the Gods would save us from the Malthusians! Right now, the Malthusians are warning us of the physical limits to further crop productivity increases. I’d take this as a signal that we need to start investing in solutions!
- goatlover 8y ago
  Africa has a lot of arable land that's uncultivated. So I'm not sure the Malthusians are right this time about crop productivity increases worldwide. Google tells me there are 600 million hectares in Africa, which is 60% of the world's total. That's a lot of potential food. Also, much of exiting agriculture in Africa is inefficient, and could be increased.
  - GreeniFi 8y ago
    Much of Africa’s soils have only 20 years of harvests left. This paper, by the British Warren Buffet, explains the problem and is well worth the read if you have the time. It’s well-written so not as daunting as it’s length otherwise makes it look. https://www.gmo.com/docs/default-source/research-and-commentary/strategies/asset-allocation/the-race-of-our-lives-revisited.pdf https://www.gmo.com/docs/default-source/research-and-comment...

travisoneill1 8y ago

Resources are finite. A certain number of people will overwhelm the availability of resources. The fact that we are currently below that number does not make the theory wrong.

GreeniFi 8y ago

Africa is the concern on the population front. I sort of feel we need Malthusian pessimists to warm us when we are heading for the cliff. The Green Revolution, and what it achieved in India and elsewhere, was achieved in substantial part through public investment in research. I guess we’re all rather glad we didn’t continue blithely believing the Gods would save us from the Malthusians! Right now, the Malthusians are warning us of the physical limits to further crop productivity increases. I’d take this as a signal that we need to start investing in solutions!

goatlover 8y ago
Africa has a lot of arable land that's uncultivated. So I'm not sure the Malthusians are right this time about crop productivity increases worldwide. Google tells me there are 600 million hectares in Africa, which is 60% of the world's total. That's a lot of potential food. Also, much of exiting agriculture in Africa is inefficient, and could be increased.
- GreeniFi 8y ago
  Much of Africa’s soils have only 20 years of harvests left. This paper, by the British Warren Buffet, explains the problem and is well worth the read if you have the time. It’s well-written so not as daunting as it’s length otherwise makes it look. https://www.gmo.com/docs/default-source/research-and-commentary/strategies/asset-allocation/the-race-of-our-lives-revisited.pdf https://www.gmo.com/docs/default-source/research-and-comment...