The shadow of the world's future, or The earth's population possibilities & the consequences of the present rate of increase of the earth's inhabitants

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1775636852

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-164018

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Knibbs, George Handley http://d-nb.info/gnd/1045010944

Title:: The shadow of the world's future, or The earth's population possibilities & the consequences of the present rate of increase of the earth's inhabitants

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Ernest Benn Limited

Year of publication:: (1928)

Scope:: 131 Seiten

Digitisation:: 2021

Collection:: Economics Books

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Document type:: Monograph

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Title:: Chapter XI. Conclusions as to population increase

Collection:: Economics Books

CONCLUSIONS AS TO POPULATION INCREASE 121 America is carrying only 39, being told also by certain special and able students that it can never carry more than 66 to the square mile, one realises how superficial are some of the studies of the world’s possibilities. The data do not yet exist by means of which a really exhaustive estimate can be made of the world’s popula- tion-limits, as things are at present, nor as they are likely to be. But we do know enough to affirm with confidence, that the fear that a country with immense resources can carry only 66 to the square mile is created by too narrow a view of the problem in hand. No sufficient account has been taken of the standard- of-living assumed to be essential, nor of the fact that the theory leading to this estimate is based upon merely temporary, undeveloped and unessential con- ditions. It may of course be true that the easy state of things in any new country must pass as the world’s peoples multiply, and that the standards existing must perforce change. If they do change in the direction of less luxury, then the estimate of 66 people to the square mile goes by the board. Even should our estimates of the limits of popula- tion be too modest, it still remains true that mankind is profligate in the use of such of Nature’s materials as are immediately at his disposal, and he is apply- ing them, and the food-stuffs likely to be available, recklessly. For this reason Man will certainly be pulled up in the near future, and the Shadow of his future remains in being. What we said in our report on the Australian Census of 1911 remains true. Our words were *— “The limits of human expansion are much nearer than popular opinion imagines; the difficulty of future food supplies will soon be of the gravest character; the exhaustion of sources of energy necessary for any notable increase of population or advance in the

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