An interview with Sir David Attenborough in the Telegraph. He is very worried about the world's growing population. He is convinced that "we are heading for disaster unless we do something". If we don't cut back on population growth ,"the natural world will indeed, has already started to fight back.What are all these famines in Ethiopia, what are they about. about too many people for too little land. That's what it's about we are blinding ourselves."
This is standard stuff. Most people are terrified of population growth and NGOs around the world dedicate thousands of man hours every year to the extrapolation of past growth figures way out into a disastrous future. But should we really be pinning all the ills of the world on population?
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
-
Six investment funds for beginnersBeginner investors can use funds to start building their portfolio, making it easy to access global trends while managing their risk level. Here’s six funds that beginner investors can consider.
-
Farming isn't for the faint-hearted – and isn't profitableOpinion Farming may look appealing, but turning a profit is extremely hard. No wonder many farmers are attracted to the Sustainable Farming Incentive, says Max King
-
Beating inflation takes more luck than skill – but are we about to get lucky?Opinion The US Federal Reserve managed to beat inflation in the 1980s. But much of that was down to pure luck. Thankfully, says Merryn Somerset Webb, the Bank of England may be about to get lucky.
-
Rishi Sunak can’t fix all our problems – so why try?Opinion Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement is an attempt to plaster over problems the chancellor can’t fix. So should he even bother trying, asks Merryn Somerset Webb?
-
Young people are becoming a scarce resource – we should value them more highlyOpinion In the last two years adults have been bizarrely unkind to children and young people. That doesn’t bode well for the future, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
-
Ask for a pay rise – everyone else isOpinion As inflation bites and the labour market remains tight, many of the nation's employees are asking for a pay rise. Merryn Somerset Webb explains why you should do that too.
-
Why central banks should stick to controlling inflationOpinion The world’s central bankers are stepping out of their traditional roles and becoming much more political. That’s a mistake, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
-
How St Ives became St Tropez as the recovery drives prices sky highOpinion Merryn Somerset Webb finds herself at the epicentre of Britain’s V-shaped recovery as pent-up demand flows straight into Cornwall’s restaurants and beaches.
-
The real problem of Universal Basic Income (UBI)Merryn's Blog April employment numbers showed 75 per cent fewer people in the US returned to employment compared to expectations. Merryn Somerset-Webb explains how excessive government support is causing a shortage of labour.
-
Why an ageing population is not necessarily the disaster many people think it isOpinion We’ve got used to the idea that an ageing population is a bad thing. But that’s not necessarily true, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
