Forty years ago, a team of researchers published The Limits to Growth, a study based on computer modeling. Its conclusions based on a "standard run" indicated a collapse of the global economic system around the middle of this century. 10 years ago, a study found a strong concurrence of the predictions with the reality of the time, and a similar study done recently shows similar results.
Smithsonian Magazine
http://tinyurl.com/7jcnmof
here is a chart from that :
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