POPULATION GROWTH NEVER PAYS FOR ITSELF by Dr. Al Bartlett

 There are many encouraging signs from communities around the U.S. that indicate a

 growing awareness of the local problems of continued unrestrained growth of populations,

 because population growth in our communities never pays for itself. Taxes and utility costs

 must escalate in order to pay for the growth. In addition, growth brings increased levels of

 congestion, frustration, and air pollution.

 In recent years, several states have seen taxpayer revolts in the form of ballot questions

 that were adopted to limit the allowed tax increases. These revolts were not in decaying

 rust-belt states; the revolts have beenin the states that claimed to be the most prosperous

 because they had the largest rates of population growth. These limits on taxes were felt to

 be necessary to stop the tax increases that were required to pay for the growth.

 Unfortunately the growth has managed to continue, while the schools and other public

 agencies have suffered from the shortage of funds.

 How do we work on the local problem? Many years ago I was discussing population

 growth of Boulder with a prominent member of the Colorado Legislature. At one point he

 said: "Al, we could not stop Boulder's growth if we wanted to!"

 I responded: "I agree, therefore let's put a tax on the growth so that, as a minimum, the

 growth pays for itself, instead of having to be paid for by the existing taxpayers."

 His response was quick and emphatic: "You can't do that, you'd slow down our growth!"

 His answer showed the way: communities can slow their population growth by removing

 the many visible and hidden public subsidies that support and encourage growth.

 The Tragedy of the Commons ( Hardin 1968 ) makes it clear that there will always be

 large opposition to programs of making population growth pay for itself. Those who profit

 from growth will use their considerable resources to convince the community that the

 community should pay the costs of growth. In our communities, making growth pay for

 itself could be a major tool to use in stopping the population growth.