I wouldn’t class GDP as a particularly good measure of quality of life, but a look at these charts shows the capital cities in Australia are performing badly when it comes to increasing GDP.

Most increases in GDP in Australia come from regional WA and regional QLD (probably from iron ore and coal exports).

http://www.sgsep.com.au/insights/urbecon/gdp-growth-how-are-australias-major-cities-performing/

Increases in GDP in Sydney are the highest of the capital cities, but this is probably linked to increasing the population of Sydney (mainly through immigration), which can superficially increase GDP.

So it means that the capital cities have minimal effect on increasing wealth, and are quite possibly acting as a drag on increasing GDP per capita, which is now constant in Australia and not increasing.

Meanwhile the capital cities consume much of the natural resources of the country, to often produce a low quality of life for city inhabitants, as well as contributing little to the wealth of the country.

Totally agree Incomuicardo

Cities only provide goods and services to other people in
cities. Cities actually produce little wealth.

The real wealth of the country is mined,grown,leeched
chopped, harnessed as in water hydro, and taken to the cities
where it provides goods and services.

Most city jobs are services jobs.

Population growth is not infinite, nor is the earth or humanity finite in a static state system, it is predicted that population growth will stabilise by 2050 except for sub Saharan Africa.

How ever, unless you are nationalist, this is part of the solution, not the problem, according to Prof. Ian Goldin of the Oxford Martin School, and his book 'Exceptional People' where he predicts that sub Saharan Africa will be an important source of immigrants for work, etc.. http://www.economist.com/node/18741382

Further, immigration is the best form of international development and relations via remittances, knowledge, expertise etc., and not unlike EU mobility, it is about 'turnstile' or 'temporary' migration i.e. 'churn over', with youth taking it for granted that like the rich world, one can travel.

We see this manifested in Australia with most population growth (according to the NOM 12/16 month rule) being amongst temporaries who pay study fees, or pay taxes when working, yet have no access to benefits etc. (nor skilled immigration except under the cap). This means that they are subsidising the permanent population, and in terms of national debt, they decrease the per capita figure.

Nation states and nationalists may still sabre rattle and assert themselves, but in many respects they are not in control, even if they would like to be .... the world and nations have changed.

PS ironic title, sounds like 'Population Matters', the John Tanton network arm in the UK, of whom Jane O'Sullivan is on Advisory Council, and Bob Carr's mate Paul Ehrlich, and old Tanton mucker, as Patron, small world :)