"Does the environment pose limits to human population size and wellbeing? Or does human intelligence and resourcefulness ensure that environmental limits will be expanded and respected? Is a growing population a (or even the) key driver of resource depletion and environmental degradation? How...

1. Introduction -- 2. The Individual -- 3. The State -- 4. Population -- 5. The Enquirer -- 6. The Continuing Debate -- 7. Malthus’ Essay -- 8. Godwin’s Thoughts -- 9. Of Population -- 10. The Westminster Review. 11. Conclusion.

This paper studies the relationship between population size and the rate of time preference (RTP) in pre-capitalist subsistence agricultural communities. The RTP is reflected in the community´s propensity to invest in and maintain new arable land that may be considered as an inherent...