A simple Ricardo-Malthusian model of population, deforestation and biodiversity loss

Late Lawson () and Lawson Late
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Late Lawson: BETA, CNRS, INRAE & University of Strasbourg
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Laté Ayao Lawson

No 2020.08, Working Papers from FAERE - French Association of Environmental and Resource Economists

Abstract: This paper assesses the interactions between human societies and nature, arguing that population growth and forest resources harvest cause natural habitat conversion, which resolves into biodiversity loss. Relying on profit and utility maximization behaviours, we describe the joint evolution of population, forest and species stock by a dynamic system characterized by a locally stable steady state. Compared to existing studies, we enlighten the possibility of total extinction of biological species (empty forests). Furthermore, our analysis supports an impossible peaceful cohabitation, as in presence of human population growth, forest resources and species stock diverge from their carrying capacity. Finally, scenarios analyses associated with high fertility and preference for the resource-based good globally indicate rapid population growth followed by a sudden drop.

Keywords: Economic growth; Population; Forest clearing; Habitat destruction; Species loss (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q32 Q57 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 21 pages
Date: 2020-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env, nep-evo, nep-gro, nep-his, nep-hme and nep-upt
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http://faere.fr/pub/WorkingPapers/Lawson_FAERE_WP2020.08.pdf First version, 2020 (application/pdf)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:fae:wpaper:2020.08

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