Is not employment rate vs. population one valid metric, for instance?
It is not. Is there any correlation between unemployment and overall population across time? I don’t think so. Is there any correlation between local population density and local unemployment? I don’t think so. Is the unemployment in Hong Kong hugely greater than in Mongolia or Greenland?
cost of various foodstuffs vs income?
As with unemployment, look at this criterion over the last few centuries. Even during the XX century I believe the percentage of income spent on food has been steadily dropping in the developed countries.
But we don’t know enough about future technology and sociology to say for certain.
It’s funny how the proponents of the overpopulation thesis have absolutely no problems with linearly extending resource consumption lines far into the future but can’t say anything about the future technology and so conveniently assume that it won’t change.
My goal is for individuals to have more wealth and access to more resources.
So, that’s pretty mainstream. Would you be fine with calling it the total economic wealth of the world?
if you were to disperse the population of India and China around the world
So are you saying that the metrics I suggested aren’t valid at all, or simply don’t make a case for overpopulation existing?
I believe the percentage of income spent on food has been steadily dropping in the developed countries.
That’s why I mentioned the worldwide average, not just developed countries.
Would you be fine with calling it the total economic wealth of the world?
Not total, average.
Anyway, it’s no use going back-and-forth like this, because I feel like I’m seriously straying from my goal of being neutral and unbiased. I liked Manfred’s response because he explicitly mentioned one well-defined issue he thinks I’m overlooking, rather than trying to overcomplicate the discussion.
It is not. Is there any correlation between unemployment and overall population across time? I don’t think so. Is there any correlation between local population density and local unemployment? I don’t think so. Is the unemployment in Hong Kong hugely greater than in Mongolia or Greenland?
As with unemployment, look at this criterion over the last few centuries. Even during the XX century I believe the percentage of income spent on food has been steadily dropping in the developed countries.
It’s funny how the proponents of the overpopulation thesis have absolutely no problems with linearly extending resource consumption lines far into the future but can’t say anything about the future technology and so conveniently assume that it won’t change.
So, that’s pretty mainstream. Would you be fine with calling it the total economic wealth of the world?
Let’s stick to reality.
So are you saying that the metrics I suggested aren’t valid at all, or simply don’t make a case for overpopulation existing?
That’s why I mentioned the worldwide average, not just developed countries.
Not total, average.
Anyway, it’s no use going back-and-forth like this, because I feel like I’m seriously straying from my goal of being neutral and unbiased. I liked Manfred’s response because he explicitly mentioned one well-defined issue he thinks I’m overlooking, rather than trying to overcomplicate the discussion.
Yes, I don’t think they have anything to do with overpopulation.
Ok thanks, at least now I know where the disagreement lies.
And now you’re down-voting me just because you didn’t read my post before replying?
I am not downvoting you. I rarely up- or downvote posts in threads in which I participate, anyway.
Yeah that came out entirely different to what I had intended to ask. Retracted.