The Challenging Billions

It took the world centuries to reach 1 billion people in 1800, and 6 billion more have been added since. Technological changes that provided jobs for billions and supported families are not so fast paced, notes David Bloom, a Harvard professor, in an essay for Project Syndicate: “A failure to absorb large numbers of people into productive employment could lead to mass suffering and myriad catastrophes. The continuation of extreme cross-country income inequality could deter international cooperation, stalling or even reversing globalization, despite its potential to improve everyone’s standard of living.” He points out that population growth is most pronounced in the poorest nations, and that an expanding global population strains water and other natural resources and hinders job growth. Humans have the ability to manage population, immigration and policy innovations in ways that could ease potential disruptions, and Bloom concludes that it would be irresponsible for global leaders to neglect planning for the anticipated extra billions. – YaleGlobal