Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s 1972 study ‘collapse of human society’ might become reality. According to it, “the human society is on the verge of collapsing in the next two decades”. The study is in the news again and new research points towards the study becoming a reality soon. What does this mean?
What is the ‘collapse of human society’ study all about?
The 1972 study is a research study designed by experts at MIT to research the perils of civilization collapse. The study visualized 12 scenarios. Most of them projected a point where natural resources would become very scarce. Hence, it will lead to a great decline in growth and welfare. The study, published in ‘The limits of expansion,’ is a best-selling book of the year.
Additionally, it describes that a collapse is imminent to a point where living standards deteriorate for several decades. However, this decline will not lead to the end of the human age.
More on the new research
Gaya Herrington recently conducted a new study on the same. Harrington is a researcher at KPMG International, an Anglo-Dutch multinational professional services network. Her research has the power to disprove or prove the MIT theory. Harrington studied ten main variables including food production, population, pollution levels, industrial output, fertility rates, population, etc. The study is available in the Yale Journal of Industrial Ecology
The study concludes that the world could experience a complete societal collapse. Moreover, the study closely aligns with specific situations from the 1972 study: CT (Comprehensive Technology) and BAU2 (Business-as-usual). Both these scenarios show a standstill in growth within a decade or so from now. Additionally, it indicates that sustaining business as usual, that is, seeking continuous growth, “is not possible.”