Group 9:Lesson 2.

Global Demography

The Malthusian Theory of Population

Prepared by: Jezreel Braga
 INTRODUCTION

Thomas Robert Malthus, an

English cleric, and scholar
Vision
published a theory1in his 1798
writings, An Essay on the
Principle of Population.

Thomas Robert Malthus

 According to Thomas Malthus, populations grow in
geometric progression. A geometric progression refers
to a number sequence in which each term following
the first can be found by multiplying the previous one
with a common ratio, which is a fixed, non-zero
number.

For instance, in the sequence 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, the

common ratio is 3.
Malthus also stated that food production increases
through arithmetic progression, which is a number
sequence with a constant difference between
consecutive terms.

For example, in the sequence 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, the

constant difference is 2. Malthus derived this
conclusion from the Law of Diminishing Returns.
POSITIVE OR NATURAL CHECKS
AND
PREVENTATIVE CHECKS.
 POSITIVE OR NATURAL CHECKS
any event or circumstance that shortens the human life
span.

Malthus believed the imbalance between population growth

and food supply would be corrected by natural forces, such as
earthquakes and floods. He also believed the imbalance would
be corrected by human actions like wars and famines.
 PREVENTATIVE CHECKS
ways that in which nature may alter population changes.

Malthus suggested the use of preventative measures to

control population growth. These included celibacy, late
marriage, and family planning.
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