Bob Hughes, American Fisheries Society president writes:
"Population growth is a component of economic growth, determining it's natural rate (Harrod 1939). In addition, neoclassical economists regard population growth as necessary for per capita growth in gross domestic product over the long term (Romer 1990; Jones 1998). That is, neoclassical economists believe that more people are needed to stimulate more consumption per person."
But actually Romer says that human capital (i.e., knowledge, education) is necessary for economic growth but population is not (here is the pdf). There is nothing in any standard economics textbook that says population growth drives economic growth. For example, Mankiw (6e), a standard neoclassical economics textbook, says that consumption per person is: c = (1-s)f(k), where s is the saving rate and k is the capital stock per worker.
What am I missing? Why would a fisheries biologist write such a thing?
