Population Size and Natural Resources
One of the topics in my new book on sustainable economics discusses the fact that many populations result in living in locations that are inhospitable to their numbers. Where people live, and work must have sufficient resources. For a variety of reasons, people end up in the wrong places where the population is too dense.
Whether locations can support them or not, they attract people. One instance is the State of California. The state's popularity includes Pacific Ocean beaches, mountains, and consistently warm weather. In fact, much of the region is a desert without a natural potable water supply.
The climate is attractive however the geophysical problems are dangerous such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Applied technology attempts to mitigate deficiencies. Still, excess population contributes to environmental damage including unhealthy air and water.
There is a limited capacity to support people, though there is deficient political will to address the problem.
Issues such as illegal immigration manifest in California because the state promotes farming due to the multiple growing seasons.
Agriculture is automated, yet migrant workers are needed to support crop tending and harvesting. Migrants find it more attractive to stay in the state in contrast to going home when the job is complete. They have families and want to keep them with them. Doing that places an extraordinary burden on public services for which business, government, and taxpayers haven't adequately accounted.
The problems aggregate from local and state government to the federal government that shares responsibility for protecting the borders and managing population migration.
Laws are on the books governing the circumstances. However, legislators failed to enforce the laws and to provide adequate resources to manage the situation. That manifested into a national crisis.
The questions remain:
What are California's optimal population size and demographics including the workforce skill, knowledge, and experience profiles?
What are California's limits regard to clean air and water?
What is the deviation between the present situation and what is acceptable?
If there are too many people living in different places, what is being done about it?
Whether locations can support them or not, they attract people. One instance is the State of California. The state's popularity includes Pacific Ocean beaches, mountains, and consistently warm weather. In fact, much of the region is a desert without a natural potable water supply.
The climate is attractive however the geophysical problems are dangerous such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Applied technology attempts to mitigate deficiencies. Still, excess population contributes to environmental damage including unhealthy air and water.
There is a limited capacity to support people, though there is deficient political will to address the problem.
Issues such as illegal immigration manifest in California because the state promotes farming due to the multiple growing seasons.
Agriculture is automated, yet migrant workers are needed to support crop tending and harvesting. Migrants find it more attractive to stay in the state in contrast to going home when the job is complete. They have families and want to keep them with them. Doing that places an extraordinary burden on public services for which business, government, and taxpayers haven't adequately accounted.
The problems aggregate from local and state government to the federal government that shares responsibility for protecting the borders and managing population migration.
Laws are on the books governing the circumstances. However, legislators failed to enforce the laws and to provide adequate resources to manage the situation. That manifested into a national crisis.
The questions remain:
What are California's optimal population size and demographics including the workforce skill, knowledge, and experience profiles?
What are California's limits regard to clean air and water?
What is the deviation between the present situation and what is acceptable?
If there are too many people living in different places, what is being done about it?
"In February its eight “jail facilities” held an average of 17, 362 men and women: more than the 15, 300 inmates held in all 63 county jails in New York state. All but one of Los Angeles County's facilities are overcrowded, and the system as a whole has 38% more prisoners than it is meant to house.
The Economist
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