Effects of Overpopulation on the Economy

Effects of Overpopulation on the Economy Annotated Bibliography

Trevor J. Schretzenmayer
James Madison University

Effects of Overpopulation on the Economy

Introduction:
The increasing effect that overpopulation has on the economy is becoming a more and
more pressing issue that most of the population is either ignorant to or chooses to ignore. As an
economics major, I find it to be extremely worrisome that this issue is not at the forefront of
todays major world issues. It seems that all anybody talks about (especially politicians) are issues
such as, climate change, poverty, unemployment and national debt. While all of these are
certainly major problems, the biggest problem of all, as well as the cause of the for mentioned
issues, is overpopulation. Through my research I have discovered how a rapid increase of global
population has had a devastating effect on the worlds economy as well as the enviroment. As a
global society we have far surpassed the capacity of our planet and it is simply not sustainable.
This research is beneficial to anybody concerned with economic sustainability or even just the
future of the human species as our population continues to grow.

Kuo, G. (2012). MegaCrisis? Overpopulation is the problem. World Future Review, 23-32.

Effects of Overpopulation on the Economy

The author, Gioietta Kuo, writes her article in response to an article entitled Global
MegaCrisis: Four Scenarios, Two Perspectives by authors Halal, W. E., and Michael Marien.
While she applauds the authors for providing an unbiased description of how current world
issues will effect the environment and the economy, she points out that they missed the mother of
all issues, overpopulation. Kuo goes on to state strong evidence throughout the article that
informs the audience about the perils of overpopulation. She then describes, in detail, how our
rapidly expanding population has already effected our global environment and how those factors
influence our economy. Throughout the article, Kuo suggests that the main areas of concern
include climate change, sustainable energy, over consumption, and our ability to feed the world
population. All of which come with major economic setbacks, the likes of which our society has
never seen before. With our population already living well beyond its means, Kuo stresses the
need to change our current trajectory before the human race drives itself to extinction.
Kou, a well respected physicist in the energy field, has published over 70 academic
articles many of which deal with the problems of overpopulation. Throughout the article she
quotes statistics that pertain to every aspect of overpopulation and includes a large bibliography
of the sources contained within the article. Kou directs her work in response to another
aforementioned article. But the information within is helpful to anyone from environmentalists
and economists to students who are concerned with the effect of overpopulation on society. The
only bit of bias that stuck out was in regard to economic systems. For all its obvious flaws,
capitalism as practiced today is still the best economic system there is(28) Aside from this
assertion, every other statement throughout the article is followed by cited evidence or statistics.
The article is three years old but it is still very relevant to the topic and a lot of the already
daunting statistics have undoubtedly grown since the articles publication.

Effects of Overpopulation on the Economy

Kuos article provides great background information and a strong foundation for the rest
of my research. It does not go to deep into the economic effects of overpopulation, or any one
effect in particular. Instead, it approaches the issue with a wide lens and provides a look at a
variety of problems that arise from overpopulation. By addressing the issue as a whole it gives
the audience a broad understanding of how overpopulation has effected, and will continue to
effect, almost every aspect of our society. I can use this source in my research project to provide
the audience with background knowledge before diving into the main issue of economics that I
will be focusing on.
Ehrlich, P., & Ehrlich, A. (2012). Solving the human predicament. International Journal
of Environmental Studies, 69(4), 557-565.
In the article Solving the human predicament authors Paul and Anne Ehrlich explore the
many ways in which overpopulation damages the world economy. The article identifies one of
the biggest issues to be overconsumption by wealthier societies. Ehrlichs main claim is this; even
though a large amount of Earths societies are impoverished and millions of people die from
starvation every year, as a whole we are still managing to consume at a rate that has long been
unsustainable. In order to sustain current growth trends the article states that Agricultural
production must be increased some 70100% by 2050 (559) With the effects our current
agricultural platform has on the environment and the economy, it is simply a global meltdown
waiting to happen. The authors propose that the economic issues behind overconsumption and
sustainability need to be more widely taught in academic institutions, primarily in elementary
and secondary schools, so that future generations know enough to prevent the issue from further
progressing.

Effects of Overpopulation on the Economy

The authors Paul Ehrlich and Anne Ehrlich are respectively the president and associate
director of the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University. Paul Ehrlich is best
known for his warnings about population growths effects on economics as well as environmental
sustainability. A long bibliography is provided with citations from a variety of academic sources.
There is almost no distinguishable bias in the article as every claim is backed by evidence. The
authors even use facts to strike fear in the reader, Even with a substantial portion of Earths
population living in poverty, more than one planet would be needed to sustain todays population
indefinitely. (558) The article is mainly written towards scholars and academic institutions
stressing the importance of informing students and the public about this dire issue that is ignored
by the mainstream media. This piece of academic literature was written 3 years ago and still
heavily applies to the issue being discussed.
This academic article is one of my best pieces of research material. It provides me with a
wide variety of information that I can utilize in my project. I gained a lot of insight after reading
the article and hope to use that to write a well rounded report on the issue of overpopulation and
its effects on economics.
Over population and the effects on our economy & the environment! (2012, April 5).
Retrieved

October 25, 2015 http://www.news24.com

In this editorial, the author who goes by the screen name Div, examines the major
economic issues that go hand and hand with overpopulation. The piece focuses on how
unsustainable our current lifestyles are and how overpopulation just adds to the problem. The
author blames politicians who avoid [overpopulation] constantly under the blanket of human
rights and political correctness (Paragraph 1). She pleads that it is a major issue that needs to be

Effects of Overpopulation on the Economy

addressed but world leaders refuse to do. And as population grows the demand for resources such
as food and oil will as well, things that are already becoming scarce leading to huge economic
problems.
The reliability of this editorial, posted by an unknown author Dev, is highly
questionable. No sources are cited and most statements seem to be opinion. Although it was
published by a respectable news source and all the main ideas are inline with academic articles
on the subject. It relies heavily on logic and reasoning instead of facts. The only probable
solution is to encourage a culture of learning and good education I am not convinced that our
government - in fact world leaders are heading this way, they are simply ignoring the facts
(Paragraph 4). The author does not back up any statements, such as this one with hard evidence
and is writing to persuade the intended audience (those concerned with economic and
environmental sustainability) to believe her opinion through basic logic. The editorial was
written in 2012 and still carries relevance today as the problem worsens with no serious
discussions among world leaders on how to combat overpopulation.
This is the only source without a reliable author or cited sources in my research. Although
I will not directly use it in my research project, it will still serve a purpose. No direct quotations
can be taken from it as it is not an academically reliable source. However, I will use the basic
logical concepts to help interpret information from more valid sources. The basic principles of
the editorial can be backed up by facts and statistics from my other sources and will be useful as
I continue my research.
Sachs, J. (2011, October 19). Overpopulation is A Major Economic Problem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg0AgajjKZ0. Retrieved October 25, 2015.

Effects of Overpopulation on the Economy

In this video professor Jeffery Sachs, the director of the Earth Institute at Columbia
University, is being interviewed on the effects of overpopulation. Professor Sachs speaks on how
much the worlds population has increased in the past few years. He goes on to explain how we
need to stabilize worldwide population if we hope to get anywhere near sustainability. To do this
he suggests we reduce infant mortality rates as well as provide family planning in developed
countries. It is the people in these countries that have more offspring than is sustainable. But the
effects of overpopulation are mostly felt in more developed nations as the prices of commodities
such as food and energy skyrocket in response to an increase in demand.
As the director of the Earth Institute at the prestigious Columbia University and a well
respected economist, Jeffrey Sachs is a very reliable source of information for this particular
topic. Sachs details just how rapidly our population has grown, In 12 years the worlds
population has gone up by one billion people (24 sec). He gives an unbiased explanation of how
overpopulation is effecting the world economy and just how unstable it is. He gives examples
and statistics to back up the major claims in the interview and uses them to inform viewers about
the economic perils of overpopulation. He details how it effects low to high income nations and
how they intertwine. The video was posted 4 years ago but is still relevant as very few people are
aware just how serious of an issue this is.
This is my only video based research source. It is concise and drives the main topics
towards the viewer in a very clear way. Sachs interview is a valuable addition to my research as
it provides supporting evidence to other more detailed sources. He accurately summarizes the
main points described in many of my other research sources and uses examples that really
resonate with the viewer.

Effects of Overpopulation on the Economy

McCutcheon, J. (2014, May 20). Is Human Overpopulation Killing the Planet? Eluxe
Magazine.
In this magazine article the author, Jody McCutcheon, details the issue of global
overpopulation and its effects on both the environment and the economy. Her main claim is that
our current lifestyle is simply not sustainable at our current rate of growth. She debates whether
our current issues on the subject are due to overpopulation or overconsumption and arrives at the
conclusion that they both play a heavy role. The developed world is responsible for
overconsumption while the developing world is to blame for the issue of overpopulation.
McCutcheon pleads society change its ways before we suffer further economic implication, the
likes of which the human race has never seen before.
The author of this article, Jody McCutheon, is the assistant editor at Eluxe Magazine
where it was published. She writes to inform the general public about overpopulation and inspire
them to help make a change before it is to late. She does so with a heavy use of pathos, The
transition to more sustainable behavior wont happen quickly or easily, but it must happenfor
the double-helixed sakes of our planet and all life on it, including ours. (Paragraph 18) The
article is clean of any strong bias as the author backs up her claims with links to studies or just by
explaining her claim with facts. This magazine article was published just over a year ago and is
still very relevant to the issue I am researching.
McCutheons article is a valuable asset in my pool of research sources. Although it is not
very academic in nature, it still provides a plethora of information on the topic along with links
to studies that can help me later in the research process. It is also the only piece in my research
that aims to inspire change as well as informing the reader about the issue at hand. This will help
me convey my message in a way that strikes emotion when I write my paper on the topic. After

Effects of Overpopulation on the Economy

reading this article I realized just how big a role education plays in this issue. People worldwide
need to understand the severity of the problem or no changes will ever be made.