You need to look no further than the titles to know that both "Empty Planet" and "The Coming Crash" are not scientific studies of population. They are scare stories designed to maintain the status quo.

The status quo is high immigration and a relentless increase in the population to ensure more customers for business and lower wages for most workers. That means bigger profits for existing businesses.

Both books gloss over the next 30 years where, even in their most favourable reality, the population continues to increase to at least 9 billion. And then how long does it take to "CRASH" back to our current population of 7.8 billion (I guess only an author with no respect for his readers would call that an "EMPTY PLANET"). Well, best case, that will take another 30 years.

The environmental and human destruction during that time will be significant and, of course, even worse if the authors very low end predictions are too low. (How many pandemics are you predicting in that time?) But is that the problem of the business people promoting higher population. HELL NO. Those are externalities that are picked up by the general population through higher taxes, lower wages, more pollution, poor infrastructure and higher commodity prices.

Unfortunately, governments are designed and run to protect the interests of the property owners. It is likely then that our "Scotty from marketing" (and the next guy and the next guy) will continue to do as their told, until the average citizen gets sick of it.

Mr Opinion, wrong again. Andras Smith and I are saying the rate of growth of world population is falling, not world population.

Bernie Masters,

Sorry if I misinterpreted what you said but the way you expressed yourself was a bit ambiguous.

Can we both agree that (1) world population is increasing (2) fertility rates in modern industrial societies are declining (3) modelling shows that world population growth might peak and possibly decline.

How does that sound?

Mr Opinion. Spot on. We're in agreement. The big question then becomes how quickly will human population decline once zero population growth occurs? Japan's population is projected to fall from 127 million to 100 million by 2050 - a 20% drop - so the decline globally could be surprisingly large after 2050.

The authors cited, like others, have synthesised credible research vs. promoting beliefs and opinions promoting 'overpopulation' alarmists, sub-optimal data analysis by the UNPD and reemergence of the old WASP eugenics movement, supported by old fossil fuel oligarchs and related, under the guise of 'sustainable environment'.

Parts of the world have already started on their population decline, following decades of below replacement rate fertility and emigration i.e. Central Eastern Europe. Further many other nations, outright population will peak mid century due to their fertility/replacement rates dropping generations ago e.g. western Europe.

Australia's estimated population is inflated by the expansion of the NOM net overseas migration formula (defined by the UNPD) in 2006 including significantly more temporary residents via the 12/16+ month rule sweeping up international students, backpackers etc., which will decline markedly in the short term.

However, the elephant in the room is Australia's own permanent population (excluding temporaries), which is already flatlining, with the top end of baby boomer bubble immediately following and overlapping the last of the pre WWII oldies; the 'big die off' starting in about five years.

Following generations have lower fertility rates which can be seen starkly in the bush with fewer children and families, schools closing, need for seasonal workers and difficulty in fielding local sports teams, sustaining clubs and community.