Uman National University | today: 06/19/2025
| Author(s) | Mudrak R.P., Doctor of Economics, , Uman National University of Horticulture | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Economics | ||
| year | 2025 | issue | Випуск 106 Частина 2 |
| pages | 457-470 | index UDK | 314.116-022.257(100) | DOI | 10.32782/2415-8240-2025-106-2-457-470 (Link) |
| Abstract | Overpopulation is one of the most pressing problems in the global economy. Or, as it is more commonly called, the global demographic problem. Its essence lies in the sharp increase in the world's population that began in the mid-twentieth century. This growth is driven mainly by geographical areas where the poorer part of humanity lives. As a result, the following problems of overpopulation have arisen: increased food and water shortages, and, accordingly, those suffering from chronic hunger and unsanitary conditions; poor health of mothers and children; spread of diseases; increased shortage of safe energy sources; depletion of environmental resources, increased rates and scale of pollution; increased supply of unskilled labor and transformation of poverty into a chronic problem; and worsening of the crime situation. Between 1960 and 2023, the world's population grew by 2.7 times, and the average per capita GDP by 3.2 times. Therefore, although the problem of over-population exists, it has a pronounced regional character: the highest population growth rates are observed in certain geographical areas characterized by unsatisfactory trends in changes in absolute and relative production volumes. These are countries in Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. They are now called the countries of the Global South. From a demographic point of view, the biggest problem in the poor countries of the Global South is the excessive supply of unskilled labor, which leads to low real wages, livelihood shortages, and chronic poverty. The main economic reason for the poverty of the countries of the Global South is the absence or insufficient development of industrial production and specialization in agricultural production. The industrialization of poor and developing countries is hindered by two factors: (1) universal free trade rules that prohibit the use of effective instruments to protect young, uncompetitive industries; (2) the unprecedented level of interdependencies of economies. In order to help poor countries in the Global South overcome the consequences of the overpopulation problem, it is necessary to: (1) to assist them in using Article XIX:1 of the GATT, which allows for the application of safeguard measures for industrial development; (2) expand access to markets for their agricultural products in developed countries; (3) attract funds from international donors for the construction of infrastructure projects in such countries. | ||
| Key words | global economy, overpopulation, low income, industry, agriculture, free trade, interdependence, international donors, infrastructure projects | ||