6 Billion and Growing
When political freedom is secured and the market is unrestrained, more people increases demand, and therefore also the supply, and at the end there is more available for consumption than ever before. People are the ultimate resource, they just don't come with a mouth alone, but also a mind and a pair hands. It is time to party and cut the cake on the arrival of the 6 billionth person on this planet. A shorter version of this article titled "6 Billion and Growing" appeared in The Economics Times on 12 October 1999. Birth of baby is usually a source of great joy. Therefore, on October 12, the date symbolically designated to mark the arrival of the 6 billionth person on this planet there should have been a grand party to celebrate the momentous event. This is the first time in history that the human population reached this figure. In the last quarter of a century, the population has increased by 50% from 4 billion. A four fold increase in just this century! Before that it h...