Principles of Environmental Economics: Economics, Ecology and Public Policy

Part Eight consists of one chapter: Chapter 18, which examines the complex and seemingly paradoxical interrelationship among population, poverty and environmental degradation in the developing countries of the world. The problems of overpopulation, poverty and environmental degradation are addressed with a global perspective. Although the immediate impacts of these problems are confined to developing nations, the developed or industrial nations are viewed as part of both the problems and the solutions to these issues.

Specific issues addressed in this chapter include the following: What exactly is the world population problem? Is the world becoming overpopulated? What can be said about the spatial distribution of the world’s population? Should it be a source of concern? What can be said about future global population trends? How significant is the adverse impact of rapid population growth on resource utilization and environmental quality? What can be done to control population growth? What have been the achievements of economic development projects of the past three decades undertaken to ameliorate poverty in the developing countries? Is international trade benefiting or hurting the economic development aspirations and ecological integrity of the developing countries?

Given the seemingly insurmountable political and economic problems the developing countries face, can we realistically expect them to initiate and implement effective population control policies without significant financial and technical support from developed

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