THOMAS MALTHUS

In the late 1700’s, a British economist Thomas Malthus concluded that the rate of population was growing at a faster rate than agricultural productivity

Malthus coined the term overpopulation In 1798, at 32 years old British he anonymously

published a lengthy pamphlet criticizing the views of the Utopians who believed that life could and would definitely improve for humans on earth, titled An Essay on the Principle of Population as it Affects the Future Improvement of Society, with Remarks on the Speculations of Mr. Godwin, M. Condorcet, and Other Writers

Malthus was concerned the world population was growing at an exponential rate while agricultural productivity was growing at a linear rate, and that inequality would lead to a starvation pandemic

Therefore, since food is an essential component to human life, population growth in any area or on the planet, if unchecked, would lead to starvation.

Exponential vs. Linear

exponential rate- the world population growth

Also written as “geometrically” Ex. 1, 2, 4, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, etc.

linear rate- agricultural productivity Also known as “arithmetically”EX. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, etc.

However, Malthus also argued that there are preventative checks and positive checks on population that slow its growth and keep the population from rising exponentially for too long, but still, poverty is inescapable and will continue.

Preventative Checks

preventative checks are those that affect the birth rate

Include: marrying at a later age (moral restraint), abstaining from procreation, birth control

Positive Checks

Positive checks are those that increase the death rate.

Include: disease, war, disaster, and finally, when other checks don't reduce population, famine.

Malthus felt that the fear of famine or the development of famine was also a major impetus to reduce the birth rate. He indicates that potential parents are less likely to have children when they know that their children are likely to starve.

Was he right?

He was correct in his assumption that the world population would grow exponentially, but his theory floundered on the agricultural side

Malthus never could never have predicted the inventions that would mechanize farming and modify crops, which have greatly increased productivity

Neo-Malthusians

The Neo-Malthusian viewpoint is theoretical, not necessarily a demographic fact

Neo-Malthusianism generally refers to people with the same basic concerns as Malthus who advocate for population control programs to ensure enough resources for current and future populations.

They point out that human suffering is now occurring on a scale unimagined by Malthus

Malthus Sensory Figure

Must be in color Must include 6 statements that would be

made by Malthus No, you don’t have to be a wonderful

artist..you just have to try!