First, mitigating factors usually arise. An illness which wipes out half of the population could alter that scenario a bit.

However, the effects of global warming including altering the times and places of food production relative to the population centers will add to the stress.

I've often thought that the rosy predictions of Man's technological progress were in error - that Mankind will be under so much socio-political-economic stress that we will revert to nation-states, city-states and then anarchy.

Which will continue until the population comes under some sort of control.

Globalization means averaging the world's resources out among all - and the US will be the big loser. Interesting, because US multi-nationals interested in cheap labor promoted it.

And they will come out OK. Maybe the Mexican model, where there are hospitals and nice houses for employees of very large corporations which the rest of the folks are shut out.

Gonna be a mess. Makes one glad their own trip through the Universe came when it did. Although one human factor mitigates - those born today will think that the world they find is normal.

Arf