This paper presents an evolutionary game-theoretic model to explore the transition of
human economies between non-symbiotic and symbiotic regimes, driven by the level of re-
newable natural resource availability. Drawing analogies to biological ecosystems, we formal-
ize a threshold-driven function that triggers regime shifts when resource stocks dip below a
critical limit. Through replicator dynamics grounded in the Price equation, our results show
that, in a non-symbiotic regime, populations move from competitive to predatory behaviors,
overshooting the planet's regenerative capacity. Conversely, a symbiotic regime promotes
cooperation and resource-sharing, thus reducing the risk of ecological collapse. Simulations
indicate that a predator-dominated world would necessitate approximately 2.30 Earths to
sustain its consumption patterns. In contrast, a mutually cooperative world could be sus-
tained with 0.99 Earths, provided that there is a full density of mutualists, a reduction
in resource depletion intensity, and an increased sensitivity to resource scarcity. The nd-
ings highlight how strategic choices shape ecological footprints, o ering pathways for policy
interventions to encourage collective solutions and minimize exploitation pressures.

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