The world economy grew by 4.9 percent in 2005, down slightly from the 30-year high of 5.3 percent in 2004. Leading the expansion were China, growing by 10.2 percent, and India at 8.5 percent. This recent rapid growth is a continuation of half a century of economic expansion. Gross world product, the total value of all goods and services produced, increased from $7 trillion in 1950 to $61 trillion in 2005, based on purchasing power parity (PPP). Annual income per person rose from $2,923 to $9,440 during this period. Early projections for 2006 and 2007 show sustained growth of roughly 5 percent. MORE...

Gross World Product, 1950-2005 (figure and table)

Gross World Product Per Person, 1950-2005 (figure and table)

Twenty Largest Economies, 2005 (table)

Countries with Highest Per Capita GDP, 2005 (table)

Countries with Lowest Per Capita GDP, 2005 (table)

Hurricane Damages Soar to New Levels: Insurance Companies Abandoning Homeowners in High-Risk Coastal Areas (29 August 2006)

Global Warming Forcing U.S. Coastal Populations to Move Inland: An Estimated 250,000 Katrina Evacuees are Now Climate Refugees (16 August 2006)

Supermarkets and Service Stations Now Competing for Grain (13 July 2006)

Let’s Raise Gas Taxes and Lower Income Taxes (11 May 2006)

U.S. Mayors Respond to Washington Leadership Vacuum on Climate Change (3 May 2006)

Wind Energy Demand Booming: Cost Dropping Below Conventional Sources Marks Key Milestone in U.S. Shift to Renewable Energy (22 March 2006)

Bottled Water: Pouring Resources Down the Drain (2 February 2006)

Learning from China: Why the Western Economic Model Will Not Work for the World (9 March 2005)

The Short Path to Oil Independence (13 October 2004)

World Food Prices Rising (28 April 2004)

Saudis Have U.S. Over a Barrel (14 April 2004)

China's Shrinking Grain Harvest (10 March 2004)

World Creating Food Bubble Economy Based on Unsustainable Use of Water (13 March 2003)

Rising Temperatures and Falling Water Tables Raising Food Prices (21 August 2002)

From PLAN B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble by Lester R. Brown

Chapter 1 - Entering a New World Introduction The Nature of the New World Learning from China Learning from the Past The Emerging Politics of Scarcity Getting the Price Right Plan B—A Plan of Hope Chapter 6 - Early Signs of Decline Introduction Our Socially Divided World Health Challenge Growing Throwaway Economy in Trouble Population and Resource Conflicts Environmental Refugees on the Rise Failed States and Terrorism Chapter 7 - Eradicating Poverty, Stabilizing Population Introduction Universal Basic Education Stabilizing Population Better Health for All Curbing the HIV Epidemic Reducing Farm Subsidies and Debt A Poverty-Eradication Budget Chapter 11 - Designing Sustainable Cities Introduction The Ecology of Cities Redesigning Urban Transport Farming in the City Reducing Urban Water Use The Challenge of Urban Slums Cities for People Chapter 12 - Building a New Economy Introduction Shifting Taxes Shifting Subsidies Ecolabeling: Voting With Our Wallets A New Materials Economy New Industries, New Jobs The Environmental Revolution Chapter 13 - Plan B: Building a New Future Introduction Listening for Wake-up Calls A Wartime Mobilization Mobilizing to Save Civilization A Call to Greatness You and Me

From Outgrowing the Earth: The Food Security Challenge in the Age of Falling Water Tables and Rising Temperatures by Lester R. Brown

Chapter 10 - Redefining Security Introduction The Tightening Food Supply The Politics of Food Scarcity Stabilizing the Resource Base A Complex Challenge

From Plan B: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble by Lester R. Brown		Chapter 1 - A Planet Under Stress Introduction Ecological Bills Coming Due Farmers Facing Two New Challenges Ecological Meltdown in China Food: A National Security Issue The Case for Plan B Chapter 5 - Our Socially Divided World Introduction Life Expectancy: A Seminal Indicator The Effects of the HIV Epidemic Poverty and Hunger Poverty and the Burden of Disease The High Cost of Illiteracy Chapter 6 - Plan A: Business as Usual Introduction Accelerating Environmental Decline Spreading Hunger, Growing Unrest Streams of Environmental Refugees Population Growth and Political Conflict Plan A: Overwhelmed by Problems Chapter 10 - Responding to the Social Challenge Introduction Stabilizing Population Universal Basic Education Curbing the HIV Epidemic Health for All School Lunches for the Poor Breaking Out Chapter 11 - Plan B: Rising to the Challenge Introduction Deflating the Bubble A Wartime Mobilization Creating an Honest Market Shifting Taxes Shifting Subsidies A Call to Greatness
From Eco-Economy: Building an Economy for the Earth by Lester R. Brown		Chapter 1 - The Economy and the Earth Introduction Economy Self-Destructing Lessons from the Past Learning from China The Acceleration of History The Option: Restructure or Decline Chapter 4 - The Shape of the Eco-Economy Introduction Ecology Over Economics A Monumental Undertaking Restructuring the Economy New Industries, New Jobs History's Greatest Investment Opportunity Chapter 11 - Tools for Restructuring the Economy Introduction The Fiscal Steering Wheel Tax Shifting Subsidy Shifting Ecolabeling: Voting With our Wallets Tradable Permits Support for Fiscal Restructuring