Until recently, the term “population growth” has always been viewed positively; still many people believe that a growing human population results in a growing economy. While many people debate whether a reduction in our total numbers is necessary, others debate what the effects would be. Not only does our population affect the economy, but our environment, education, quality of life and everything around us depends on how we react to this growing problem. Our population is growing and we must decide how we will react and what effects our actions will have. Many researchers and writers have differing opinions on whether population reductions are necessary, says Ozzie Zehner, author of “The Environmental Politics of Population and Overpopulation.” valid arguments using your own field research. Zehner says the nonprofit Optimum Population Trust advocates reducing the human population to one and two billion people, allowing each inhabitant to live a high standard of living. While this statement seems drastic at first glance, Zehner defends why we need this extreme reduction through research into the effects of a growing population. He claims that our population is like a Ponzi scheme, whereby an increase in the number of children in each generation is needed to support the older generation, plus most of the growth comes from developing countries. This is an interesting point he makes because it seems true on the surface, and Ponzi schemes have negative connotations attached to them. Zehner believes that for this reason, reducing our population will not be so simple. It states that even if the global birth rate were to decline from the current average of 2.6 children per couple to 2.1 children per...... middle of paper ......movement of other non-direct issues. If we do not choose to resolve this crisis voluntarily, then nature will do it for us, with a much more extreme and devastating outcome. Works Cited Ellis, Erle C. “Overpopulation Is Not the Problem.” New York Times: n. page 13 September 2013. Web. 6 September 2013.Fougère, Maxime and Marcel Mèrette. “Population aging and economic growth in seven OECD countries.” Economic Modeling 16.3 (1999). Ref. Croce Rete. 23 October 2013.Heinberg, Richard. “The Shrinking Pie: The End of 'Development'?” Post Carbon Institute. Post Carbon Institute, June 28, 2011. Web. October 6, 2013. Scrivener, Leslie. “Alan Weisman asks: Can we voluntarily reduce world population growth?” TheStar.com: n. page October 4, 2013. Web. November 12, 2013. Zehner, Ozzie. “The Environmental Politics of Population and Overpopulation.” Academia.edu. Academia.edu and Web. 12 October. 2013.