[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] H0FFman J [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] Baph117 [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] H0FFman J Then what is it? Claiming that the world has enough resources to support an even bigger population is ludicrous, fossil fuels are running out, prices of [url=http://www.commodityblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/copperpirce.jpg]minerals[/url] are soaring, rain-forests that filter CO2 are now being demolished to make room for soy plantages and residents, pollution is aggravating and[url=http://arabic.wunderground.com/health/pollutiondeaths.jpg] fine dust particles are accumulation in dense urban areas.[/url] [url=http://www1.american.edu/ted/ice/congo-coltan.htm]Minerals are getting so scarce that there are even wars being fought over.[/url] And don't get me started on how the US is waisting their helium reserves. Even if we invest in technology, we wouldn't be able to keep up with the current population growth. Do you even know how long it takes to design, test, cultivate and spread a genetically altered crop? The only thing I can envision is a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malthusian_catastrophe]Malthusian catastrope[/url]. Unless space exploration becomes something realizable. [/quote] Why are you citing spot prices of copper as proof of a diminished world capacity? There is 2 billion tons of reserves - demand is only 15 million a year. And this is ignoring an obvious point: copper is a very available resource and is easily recycled. Recycling rates are over 75%.[/quote] Then why has the copper price tripled between 04 and 06? [url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/metals-copper-theft-idUSN1E76D1W620110714]It has become so expensive that copper thievery has increased substantially. [/url] I could also give examples of other minerals if you'd like. [url=http://blog.rogermontgomery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/30-Year-iron-ore-price-chart-to-March-2011.png]Iron ore[/url], [url=http://www.shareswatch.com.au/blog/wp-content/gallery/charts/10-year-gold-price-chart-jul-09.jpg]Gold[/url], [url=http://www.ajediam.com/images/site/Historical_diamond_prices_1960_2010_Source_Ajediam.jpg]diamond[/url]. [url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jan/27/rare-minerals-global-renewables-industry]Terbium, yttrium, dysprosium, europium and neodymium[/url]. [url=http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5559]This[/url] is also quite interesting.[/quote] You're assuming x = y, when there is a lot more to the situation than that. For one, prices are always going to rise over time because of inflation. If inflation in US currency is 3% for a year, all else equal, prices of all goods will rise 3%. Apply this over a decade of time, say 2000 to 2010 as an example period, and a dollar is worth 26.6% less over that time. That is a real world number. If Copper prices rise 26.6% over that time from 2000 to 2010 - in reality, in real dollar terms, they have risen 0%. This is completely ignoring how currencies rise and fall in relation to each other, suppliers and futures owners holding product off the market, and demand outstripping short term supply - factories need time to come online. In short, think about it a bit more. [Edited on 05.14.2012 11:40 AM PDT]