Limits to Growth Exam Questions And
Answers
World 3 Model - ANS -Developed in 1970's to project world pop., food production, industrial
output, pollution emissions, and resource depletion
Limits to growth 1972 (controversial)
-If current trends continue, limits to growth reached within next 100 years with sudden
uncontrollable decline in population and industrial capacity (Malthus bc underestimation of birth
control and tech?)
- Authors wished to inform people and give call to action
Ecological Footprint - ANS - Land area req. to provide resources and absorb the emissions
of global society
World 3 LtoG 4 Scenarios - ANS 1. Continuous growth (no longer possible)
2.Logistic growth (not possible)
3. Overshoot and oscillation
4. Overshoot and collapse
Beyond the limits (1992) - ANS -Ecological footprint had already exceeded carrying
capacity
-Unsustainable deforestation, soil erosion, overfishing, global warming
Conflicts
1)More intensive and intensive use will cause renewable resources to decrease and price go
up. market would dictate move to substitute but there is no substitutes.
2)Waste generated (Ability to absorb is limited)
Daly - ANS Steady State Economics (1977)
1)Constant stocks of artifacts and people maintained at desired efficient level (similar to
classical bc level of subsistence)
-0 population, economic growth
2) Entropy - measure of amt of energy no longer capable of conversion into work
-Low entropy > High entropy
3) Main point is that SSE is desirable & necessary. Attainment will require changes in values,
priorities, and institutions.
4) Modern Malthusian arguement - ultimate limit to growth is low entropy matter energy
5) Need to change view form "more is better" > "enough is best"
6) Typical reaction to shortages - more depletion of stocks = counter intuitive
Answers
World 3 Model - ANS -Developed in 1970's to project world pop., food production, industrial
output, pollution emissions, and resource depletion
Limits to growth 1972 (controversial)
-If current trends continue, limits to growth reached within next 100 years with sudden
uncontrollable decline in population and industrial capacity (Malthus bc underestimation of birth
control and tech?)
- Authors wished to inform people and give call to action
Ecological Footprint - ANS - Land area req. to provide resources and absorb the emissions
of global society
World 3 LtoG 4 Scenarios - ANS 1. Continuous growth (no longer possible)
2.Logistic growth (not possible)
3. Overshoot and oscillation
4. Overshoot and collapse
Beyond the limits (1992) - ANS -Ecological footprint had already exceeded carrying
capacity
-Unsustainable deforestation, soil erosion, overfishing, global warming
Conflicts
1)More intensive and intensive use will cause renewable resources to decrease and price go
up. market would dictate move to substitute but there is no substitutes.
2)Waste generated (Ability to absorb is limited)
Daly - ANS Steady State Economics (1977)
1)Constant stocks of artifacts and people maintained at desired efficient level (similar to
classical bc level of subsistence)
-0 population, economic growth
2) Entropy - measure of amt of energy no longer capable of conversion into work
-Low entropy > High entropy
3) Main point is that SSE is desirable & necessary. Attainment will require changes in values,
priorities, and institutions.
4) Modern Malthusian arguement - ultimate limit to growth is low entropy matter energy
5) Need to change view form "more is better" > "enough is best"
6) Typical reaction to shortages - more depletion of stocks = counter intuitive
