Some people opine that hunger, and poverty can only be addressed by economic growth. Others, however, argue that this development ought to be stopped due to its damage to the environment. Although both views hold merit, I agree with the former viewpoint.
Granted, economic expansion can lead to species losing their original habitats. This is because vast tracts of forest have to make way for the construction of new factories and agricultural development. Such uncontrolled intervention may deprive many species of their living environment. The extinction of Dodo birds, for example, stems largely from deforestation to provide land for sugarcane development. Nevertheless, this degradation is a manageable consequence of economic growth, as many environmentally friendly initiatives such as renewable energy and environmental taxes have been implemented to mitigate this problem.
Therefore, I believe that economic expansion should not be stopped, as it is also the foundation for the developing and prosperous society. To begin with, the growing number of factories can create more employment opportunities for people, especially those from low social-economic backgrounds. For instance, the appearance of new factories from VSIP industrial estate has alleviated the financial burden of many blue-collar workers, who were initially farmers with unstable income due to unexpected weather conditions. Furthermore, taxes paid by large companies and businesses are the main national resource for the introduction of new schools and hospitals, alongside social support policies for the underprivileged. This approach can enable children from low-income families to fully access education and medical treatment, therefore reducing future unemployment rate and improving people’s living standards. In this sense, economic growth is the key to eliminating hunger, poverty and a thriving nation.
In conclusion, although economic expansion can take a toll on the environment, this problem can be alleviated by advances in technology and environmentally friendly approaches. Hence, I would concur that economic growth is of paramount importance to enhance people’s living standards.