Julian Simon

[Sanjeev Sabhlok <sabhlok@almaak.usc.edu>]

While browsing through Simon's famous book, "The Ulimate Resource"
(referring to the human brain as the ultimate resource), thought I'd list
a few of his interesting points:

* The world food situation is not worsening; it has consistently been
improving and will continue to improve

* Land is not a fixed resource; in fact less of land is being used today
to produce more food than ever before.

* Natural resources, when considered in the engineering sense (or quantity
available) are a meaningless concept. When considered in the economic
sense, natural resources have been increasing over time and their prices
have been consistently falling when measured as a ratio of wages.

* Pollution in the world has been coming down, consistently, as economic
strength increases.

* Population is not only NOT BAD for growth, but it is often beneficial
(this of course assumes that we do not have stupid policies like socialism
blocking human incentive).

* Immigration to the US has been consistently good for the USA and should
be encouraged.

* The poor have more children only because it is in their interest to have
more children. The moment their conditions are changed (not by forcing
sterlization down their throat), they cut down on children. In fact, a
part of my own dissertation is related to this.

* Future population forecasts which are made without reference to economic
systems and incentives are therefore destined to be wrong. Most forecasts
have erred towards the excess. For example, in 1970, the world population
in 2000 AD was forecast to be 7.5 billion; that has come down to about 6
billion today.

Sanjeev

PS: By the way, this great thinker and researcher, Julion Simon, who
defeated so many top shot "demographers" through making bets with them
about predictions which they made, died this February. He was to attend
the PAA (Population Association of America) meeting in Chicago in April
(which I had gone to attend). His lecture was read out by Prof. 
Easterlin, who happens to be another great thinker and economist, and also
happens to be on my dissertation committee.