That is a very important aspect and one that deserves in depth
examination, not that research had never been conducted before. I
guess it would follow that exponential population growth leads to
depletion of available resources. I would hope that hydroponics and
other alternative growing methods will ultimately forestall the limits
on food production. However, the demand for animal protein may
decrease the acreage available for farming as the land becomes the
food resource for the animals. Oil is transiting over to solar and
wind. Water is a commodity that already seems to be in short supply,
clean water that is. Somehow I feel the ingenuity of science will
prevail and populations will decrease in balance with growth, whether
by natural cause or man made calamity.
I would pay some attention to the criticisms of your "Limits to
Growth" reference.
Yale economist Henry C. Wallich labeled the book "a piece of
irresponsible nonsense" in a Newsweek editorial dated March 13, 1972.
Wallich's main complaints are that the book was published as a
publicity stunt with great fanfare at the Smithsonian in Washington,
and that there was insufficient evidence for many of the variables
used in the model.
Robert M. Solow from MIT, complained about the weak base of data on
which The Limits to Growths predictions were made.
Dr. Allen Kneese and Dr. Ronald Riker of Resources for the Future
(RFF) stated:
"The authors load their case by letting some things grow
exponentially and others not. Population, capital and pollution grow
exponentially in all models, but technologies for expanding resources
and controlling pollution are permitted to grow, if at all, only in
discrete increments."
It should be noted, however, that the authors of the report accepted
that the then-known resources of minerals and energy could, and would,
grow in the future, and consumption growth rates could also decline.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limits_to_Growth#Criticism
On Jan 21, 8:02 am, Growthbuster <[email protected]> wrote:
> Few are talking about the most basic problem with our current economic
> system: it is intent on having more throughput year over year, yet it
> exists in a finite environment. The resources it consumes are not
> unlimited. I think one of the prime reasons for such a big meltdown
> this time is that we really are up against the "limits to growth."
> That's in quotes because you ought to Google that phrase. Think peak
> oil, peak food, peak water and perhaps now peak money!
>
> Dave Gardner
> Producer/Director
> Hooked on Growth: Our Misguided Quest for Prosperity
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