Malthusian Catastrophe

Neo-Malthusian Theory
 Betsy Hartmann

"...Betsy Hartmann argues

that the real solution to the
population problem lies not
in coercive population
control programs but in the
improvement of living
standards, the position of
women in society, and the
quality of health and family
planning services."
• The lag between falls in mortality and fertility created a baby-boom
generation: between 1965 and 1990.

• Population growth spurred technological and institutional innovation.

• Advances in agricultural production have shown that the Malthusian

catastrophe can be prevented.