Divergence,

Re: "According to economist Lester Thurow 1% population growth requires 12.5% of GNP to be diverted into growth infrastructure" can you pl provide a web refernce for this if you know one. I cannot find.

I recall that about 15 years ago when I looked into infrastructure costs per new immigrant it was about $70,000; I wonder what it is now?

I also wonder what Andrew has to say about this.

Andrew, in your scenario, is high immigration the best investment for $7 Billion pa of scarce resources and funds?

last word, so far as the reference is concerned, I am afraid that I haven't checked the primary source, which is a bad practice. It is a book reference to Joel E. Cohen, How Many People Can the Earth Support, W.W. Norton, New York, 1995. I was put onto it by Bruce Sundquist's website, where there is a very interesting article on declining living standards due to very rapid population growth in Islamic countries as a factor in terrorism.

http://home.alltel.net/bsundquist1/terror.html

The population growth doesn't just refer to immigration. About half of Australia's population growth is natural increase.

Divergence and Andrew

using the Lester Thurow reference of 1% population growth requires 12.5% of GNP ($86 b), then the cost of a .25% population growth (100,000 pa) is $27 Billion pa.

Again, Andrew how is this justified?

Also I recommend the other link you provided Divergence.