Malthusian Theory of Population

Palma, Prince Eldric S.

Malthusian Theory of Population
•It is a theory of by Thomas Robert Malthus, English cleric, scholar and
influential economist.
•It was derived from his 1798 book “An Essay on the Principle of Population”.
•This theory shows the relationship between population growth and economic
development.
Explanation of theory:
•The theory has a concept of diminishing returns.
•Land is a fixed factor, the population grows at a geometric rate while the food
supplies grow at an arithmetic rate.
“Because of the rapid population growth, many people will die from the shortage of
food, so population should be controlled in the form of Positive and Preventative checks.

Positive Checks
- Disasters like floods, earthquakes, wars and famine would correct the imbalance
between food supply and population growth.

Preventative Check
- The population should engage in moral restraint and limit the number of their children
through birth control, abstinence and etc. And because of these Malthus, regarded as
Father of Modern birth control movement.
Criticisms to the theory:
1. The theory is based on simplistic assumptions and hypotheses that do not
stand to the test of empirical verification.
2. The model ignores the enormous impact of technological progress in
offsetting the growth inhibiting forces or rapid population increases.
3. The theory focuses on its assumption that national rates of population
increase are directly related to the level of national per capita income.
Factors that influence the population
size and growth:
1. Economic Development 6. Availability of Family planning
2. Education 7. Female labor market participation
3. Quality of Children 8. Death Rates
4. Welfare payments/State pensions 9. Immigration levels
5. Social and cultural factors 10. Historical factors/war
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