Thomas Lambert

According to Thomas Lambert, doomsday prophets and naysayers are wrong to contend that overpopulation threatens the planet. In the following viewpoint, Lambert gives several arguments to support his opinion: natural resources and energy are becoming less scarce; depletion of living space is not a concern; gains in per capita agricultural production make it possible to feed everyone; and environmental protection increases as a society becomes wealthier. Lambert asserts that markets must be free in order to ensure the economic growth necessary to sustain a much larger population at a higher standard of living. Lambert is a John M. Olin fellow at the Center of the Study of American Business at Washington University in Washington, D.C.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Lambert, what is the trend for...