What is going to be the scarcest resource on Earth by 2025? My interest in
economics made my ears pick up this question by a teacher to the commerce under
grads on a study tour, travelling in the same train as I was.
As the kids started giving their thoughts, I too started exploring the
answer in my mind. Could it be Oil? Could it be food? Could it be Platinum?
Could it be iron ore or other commodities?
Each answer has its own back up stories. With the rising population and
energy consumption, oil people have their slide decks declaring obituary to the
oil reserves.
Food companies run around with their projections, how India add an Australia
every year and resulting food shortage.
Some say, with every ounce of platinum that is mined, the total available
platinum is getting dwindled and soon it is going to be extinct.
One kid said it is going to be water. I recollected several lines by luminaries
of development economics that the next world war is going to be for water. So
could it be water?
The answer from teacher prompted me to think in a different line.
The scarcest resource on Earth by 2025 is going to be people, the teacher
said and paused.
While they were debating, my mind too started working logic. Then why do we
don’t see anyone talking about this?
May be, People like to project
what they like to see grow big. If I am in oil, I like to project oil
big and If I am in food, I like to make food big.
Of course, not many see commercial interest in people. Whole of Europe is
debating how to make it a gated world. The most prosperous nation is fighting
an election where main topic is how to shut the door for immigrants. Population
control is the major topic for big Asian countries.
At present non one want People.
We know in marketing, it is always
a little extra that is either making the demand or killing the demand.
Images of couple of hundreds of people getting blocked at the border in
Macedonia or the talk of a big wall in US – Mexican border, paints a very bleak
picture about ‘People resource’.
But yes in 2025 every nation on earth will be vying to get people to
reside, like the way today builders are marketing their townships.
A lot part of the world is aging. Contribution
to the people basket of the world largely comes from Indian subcontinent, China
and immigrants from the disturbed parts of Asia. Over the next ten years
economic situation and quality of living will be a lot better in these
countries. May be then, people will lose their interest to go wandering. While
for many more years to come there are parts of world requiring a steady flow of
immigrants, like Australia, Canada etc. And surely, sense will prevail after a
lot of bloodshed in the presently disturbed nations. And no more they will go
out as unwanted guests.
With no people there is no
consumption, no consumption, no production and a sterile economy.
Sooner or later, the CEO’s
who run nations will discover, Every
Human instead of nuisance is an opportunity, instead of a burden, is the beginning
of a beautiful future.
I agree with the teacher,
The scarcest resource by 2025 is people.
indussprouts@gmail.com
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