Look at all the people

From an economist's point of view, favorable demographic trends are a significant factor in the ongoing health of any region’s economy. But can you have too much of a good thing?
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The world’s population currently stands at approximately 7.9 billion people. The year I was born, it was approximately 2.9 billion, and yet even back in my high school days, I can remember that “overpopulation” was a concern spoken and written about broadly. Many commentators predicted that the overtaxing of the world’s resources caused by the presence of too many people on the planet would lead to a dystopian future no one would want to experience.

Somehow, the world has found a way to accommodate 7.9 billion people something short of dystopia, but the earth is groaning. The impact upon climates around the world seems the loudest of the groans right now.

For businesses, those 7.9 billion people represent an opportunity - more potential demand for their goods and services. But while we should always seek to meet those demands in the most environmentally friendly way possible, given the current state of the environment and the demands upon the earth’s resources, it seems that adopting a sustainable approach has never been more critical.

Can we have too much of a good thing? Possibly, but if we each do our part for environmental protection (for instance, by focusing on the energy efficiency and waste management of our companies, or supporting nature conservation efforts), it seems like, at least when it comes to people, we might never find out. Look at all the people – it’s a beautiful sight.

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