Comparative Study about

Malthusian and Optimum Theory

of Population

Prajjwal Raj Subedi

Abishek Subedi

Sujita Shrestha

GROUP MEMBERS

CONTENTS

Malthusian Theory of Population

Concept of Malthusian Theory

Features of Malthusian Theory

Criticism of Malthusian Theory

Summary of Malthusian Theory

Optimum Theory of PopulationConcept of Optimum Theory

Comparison between Optimum theory and Malthusian

Theory

Conclusion

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Bibliography

Contd...

Malthusian Theory of Population

Propounded by T.R. Malthus in his famous book “An Essay on Principle of Population”,1798Population growth rate rises at a faster rate than theproduction of food or food supply

According to Malthus," By nature, human foodincreases in a slow arithmetic ratio; men himselfincreases in a quick geometrical ratio unless want and vice stop him.”

Features of Malthusian Theory

Population Growth Rate

Food Supply

Imbalance between Population and Food Supply

Checks on Population

Preventive Checks

Positive Checks

Criticisms of Malthusian Theory

Wrong Numerical Ratios

Positive Checks not a symptom of Over

population

Pessimistic Theory

Ignores modern means of birth control

Summary of Malthusian Theory

MALTHUSIAN THEORY OF POPULATION

Population increases in geometrical progression

Population increases in arithmetical progression

Results in imbalance betweenPopulation and food supply

Correction of Imbalance

Preventive Checks- late marriage, celibacy,

etc.

Positive Checks- famines, epidemics, war, etc.

Preventive Checks is the best

Optimum Theory of Population

Propounded by economist live Sedgwick, Cannon,

Dalton, etc.

Not a complete contrast of Malthusian Theory but an

improved version

Consider that the certain rise in population is

beneficial for the utilization of productive resources

CONCEPT OF OPTIMUM THEORY

Optimum Population

Under Population

Over Population

Population

National Incom

e

Optimum population

Under population

Over population

i.e. Optimum Concept

Optimum Population is not fixed

Comparison Between Malthusian and Optimum theory

Population

Food

supp

ly

Population curve

Food supply curve

Point of Scarcity

Population

National Incom

e

Optimum population

Under population

Over population

i.e. Malthusian Concept i.e. Optimum Concept

1. Pessimistic 1. Optimistic2. Non-scientific 2. Scientific3.Food Supply 3. National Resources3. Overpopulated 3. All 1.Control PopulationSimilarities:

2. Improved VersionDifferences

Is Nepal Overpopulated?

Not overpopulated in the sense of optimum theory

More resources than the population

Only lack of utilization of resources

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Special Thanks

Faculty of Economics

Pramod Pyara Shrestha

Program Coordinator

Rajan Khatiwada

ECA Coordinator

DAMARU POUDEL

THANK YOU

for listening our presentation.