The Overpopulation Project
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Too many people consuming too much
The views and opinions expressed in guest blog posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Overpopulation Project.
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A new definition of global overpopulation, explained and applied
Some environmentalists believe current environmental problems can be addressed successfully without reducing human numbers, while others disagree. Which side is right? Our new working paper tries to get to the bottom of the matter. by Philip Cafaro Recent years have brought a cascade of bad environmental news from around the world: melting glaciers and acidifying…
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High fertility in low-income settings: the cruelty of unfettered capitalism
Abrupt as they may seem, recent changes to US aid policies are consistent with the neoliberal economic ideology long championed by many Republicans, and embraced by many Democrats, since the Reagan presidency. Family planning was one of its casualties, according to Colin Butler. by Colin Butler The re-election of US President Donald Trump appears to…
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Canceling the Demographic and Health Surveys and Ending USAID’s role in Family Planning and Reproductive Health Programs: Why it Matters
In a world with changing demographic trends, does the retreat by the U.S. government from international population and family planning programs matter? Our answer is a resounding yes. by Win Brown and Karen Hardee We are demographers who earned our graduate degrees in the 1980s, when academic programs in population and family planning were booming.…
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Pro-life = Anti-choice
Today coercion is much more prevalent globally in pronatalist policies that increase population size than it is in family planning policies that decrease fertility and limit population. For this and other reasons, the ‘pro-life’ movement is often anti-life in its consequences. by Jan Greguš, Masaryk University, Czech Republic When discussing population policies, many worry about…
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To grow or not to grow
All around the world, politicians, business leaders, academics and many members of the general public worship at the shrine of ‘growth’. They are profoundly and dangerously wrong. by Sandy Irvine, eco-activist from England To grow or not to grow is the really big issue of our times. Most problems boil down to excess growth –…
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America’s “Serengeti” at risk: Population-driven sprawl threatens the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
From the Everglades to the Arctic plains, population growth and associated development threaten America’s protected areas. A recent study from NumbersUSA, Greater Yellowstone: An Ecosystem at Risk, documents this for the United States’ flagship national park. By Leon Kolankiewicz and Rob Harding Rampant development and a surging human population are imperiling what has been dubbed…
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The Need For More Wilderness Preservation
In a picture essay with stunning photos from all around the United States, ecologist and author George Wuerthner highlights how valuable wilderness preservation is for both wildlife and human societies. by George Wuerthner Big W, or designated wilderness as prescribed under the 1964 Wilderness Act, is one of the most biocentric pieces of legislation ever…
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“America Needs More People”
That’s according to the editorial board of the New York Times, arguing for expanding immigration into the United States. Based on comments, most of their subscribers disagree. by Philip Cafaro By insisting that enforcing immigration limits is immoral, liberals in the U.S. have twice helped elect Donald Trump President. Facing a second Trump administration, some…
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Reflections on the 2024 Nobel prize in economic sciences: What is prosperity and how did it come about?
How did modern prosperity come about, and why did it happen in some countries much more than others? The winners of the 2024 Nobel prize in economics argue social institutions play a vital role. But what about demography, science and nature? By Frank Götmark Recently, the ‘Sveriges Riksbank’ Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of…
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The impact of immigration policy on future U.S. population size
Immigration will be the key factor determining whether populations in the developed world increase or decrease over the coming century. Newly published policy-based population projections illustrate this for the United States. by Philip Cafaro Population size helps determine human societies’ environmental impacts. Given that immigration is a key factor influencing the size of human populations,…
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