Demographic Fatigue Analysis

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verge of the earth's carrying capacity and toward untold disasters beyond that threshold" (Eberstadt, 2001). Meaning: Malthus' predictions are happening at this moment, he was just ahead of his time (Eberstadt, 2001). Brown et al. acknowledge population growth has slowed, childbearing has tapered and some countries are experiencing zero growth, but considering growth is a non-issue is a mistake. They further argue that grain production is stagnate, fish and the water supply are diminished, and that by 2050 the world population will rise to an additional 2.8 billion in addition to the number of people we have now. Land for crops, the rainforest, energy sources, oceanic fish will be scarce as well as jobs, places to live and education. There…show more content…
They also discuss, "demographic fatigue" (Eberstadt, 2001), whereby countries like sub-Saharan Africa will experience enormous death rates via the AIDS epidemic and argue there must be a full-on effort to reduce the birth rate through increased birth control funding before demographic fatigue happens. Eberstadt (2001) points out, their facts are disputable based on current data. The world supply of grains is not stagnate, rather decreased because of trends in developed countries where feedlot grains are used more efficiently. Eberstadt (2001) also argues that Brown et al.'s statement, that no country has experienced and sustained a three-percent growth rate is false, by reminding the authors the population in America grew from 3.9 million to 17.1 million between 1790 and 1840 resulting in a three-percent growth rate which it has sustained for a half century (Eberstadt,…show more content…
Cohen (1995) discussed the earth's capacity to support the future population as it relates to natural limits and human choices. The world currently has 5.7 billion people. In 43 years, the population would double if it continues at its current rate of 1.6 percent (Cohen, 1995). How many people can our planet support by 2050 and at what quality? Carrying capacity is hard to determine because it is not based on a single variable (Cohen, 1995). Many studies have determined food to be the leading factor when determining how many people the earth or a region can sustain, but what Cohen (1995) argues is human requirements are also part of the equation. Food production is dependent on water, location, weather, insects, available land area and what is considered to be acceptable food. Human requirements are also dependent on a number of variables; energy needs, caloric needs, migration, economics, values, family structure, tastes and fashion. How many people will want to wear certain type of clothing made from poly or cotton, who will be willing to walk versus drive, how many will have a vegetarian diet versus non? Human

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