TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Schiff, Maurice
        TI  - Can Trade Benefit Natural Resources Under Population Growth? The Role of Manufacturing’s Returns to Scale
        PY  - 2026/Feb/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 18360
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp18360
        AB  - I examine whether trade can improve the impact of population growth on natural resources (NR) and welfare over time. Under autarky, population growth results in NR and welfare collapse over time, irrespective of the value of the returns to scale in the manufacturing sector, ϕ. Under trade, NR and welfare are unchanged (increase) (collapse) over time for ϕ=(>)(<)1 – though the decrease in welfare under ϕ<1 is dampened relative to autarky. Thus, countries experiencing rapid population growth may benefit from opening up to trade.
        KW  - population growth
KW  - Renewable Natural Resources (NR)
KW  - trade vs autarky
KW  - manufacturing returns to scale
KW  - impact on NR and welfare
        ER  -