Re: The Passing of a Mathematician

From: Mxsmanic (mxsmanic_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 10/17/03 

Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 07:58:13 +0200

cymelbird writes:

> I am unaware of any evidence suggesting that the fastest growing populations
> are the least advanced in terms of agriculture. What are some examples and
> what implications do you intend to draw from this assertion?

Subsaharan Africa comes to mind.

The implication is that the same stupidity that prevents a country from
being skilled in agriculture also prevents it from controlling its own
population. Usually things like disease will maintain equilibrium, but
when more advanced countries "help," the diseases go down, but the rate
of natural increase goes up, and the production of food doesn't change.
So eventually lots of people being to starve. Eventually starvation
restores equilibrium, at least temporarily, but it's not very elegant.

> You seem to view the world as some finite set of resources ever taxed by
> a growing population.

Yes.

> Yet we continue to discover new resources - not necessarily agricultural
> or natural (i.e., oil), but more tailored to the present economy.

That will not continue forever, and it's best not to increase the
population until you are sure that you can support the increase.

> The economic history of the US for example, exhibits an
> increasing standard of living despite its increasing population.

The United States has an educated population (including women, which is
critical).

> Can you reasonably say that 100 years ago, the US had a better standard
> of living than we have today? The population was lower after all.

Technology has outpaced population growth in the U.S. That won't
continue forever, nor is it transferable to other countries. 

-- 
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.

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