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Economic Growth and the Growth of Human Population in the Past 2,000,000 Years

Author

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  • Ron W. NIELSEN

    (Griffith University, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Gold Coast Campus, Qld, 4222, Australia.)

Abstract

Growth of human population in the past 2,000,000 years is analysed. It is shown that the growth was in three major stages: (1) 2,000,000 to 27,000 BC, (2)27,000 BC to AD 510 and (3) AD 510 to present. Each stage is described by hyperbolic distribution followed by a significantly shorter, non-hyperbolic transition to a new stage. Data show also a minor disturbance in the third hyperbolic stage. Each hyperbolic stage was prompted by a single force, the biologically-controlled force of procreation expressed as the difference between the biologically-controlled force of sex drive and the biologically-controlled process of aging and dying. The fundamental parameter describing hyperbolic growth is given by the ratio of the force of growth and of the resistance to growth. It is assumed that during transitions, this fundamental force remained the same but the resistance to growth was changing. All these three stages, and the minor disturbance in the middle of the third stage, are now described mathematically and explained. The derived parameters are used to calculate the size of the world population in the past 2,000,000 years and to fill in the gaps between data. These parameters can be used to calculate the growth rate at any time in the past 2,000,000 years. Analysis of population data and the earlier analysis of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita allow also for the evaluation of the economic growth in the past 2,000,000 years. The size of the population and the GDP values are tabulated.

Suggested Citation

  • Ron W. NIELSEN, 2017. "Economic Growth and the Growth of Human Population in the Past 2,000,000 Years," Journal of Economics Bibliography, KSP Journals, vol. 4(2), pages 128-149, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:ksp:journ6:v:4:y:2017:i:2:p:128-149
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    Cited by:

    1. Ron W. NIELSEN, 2017. "Demographic Catastrophes Did Not Shape the Growth of Human Population or the Economic Growth," Journal of Economic and Social Thought, KSP Journals, vol. 4(2), pages 121-141, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Growth of human population; Economic growth; Hyperbolic growth; Mechanism of hyperbolic growth.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A10 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - General
    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • A20 - General Economics and Teaching - - Economic Education and Teaching of Economics - - - General
    • C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General
    • Y80 - Miscellaneous Categories - - Related Disciplines - - - Related Disciplines

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