Four theories of population change and the environment

Conclusion It is clear from the discussion of the four principal frameworks used to study population and land use that there is no consensus on the relationship. Most of the debate has centered on the two rivalpolicies of the neoclassical economists and the classical economists or natural scientists. Consensus has been difficult to reach mainly because the empirical evidence is weak and inconclusive, and the diverse experiences of different regions make it difficult to generalize for policy. Because the linkage is unclear, it seems premature to conclude that curbing population growth is the only or most important remedy for land degradation.It is relevant to note that this paper has focussed only on land degradation. It may be that population change plays a more conclusive role in affecting other aspects of the environment.The National Research Council is the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences. The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.