THOMAS MALTHUS

POPULATION THEORY
 THOMAS MALTHUS
 Thomas Robert Malthus (1766–1834) was a British
economist and demographer best known for his theories
on population growth. Here's an overview of some key
aspects of his work:
 Influences:
 Malthus was influenced by several thinkers of his time,
including David Hume and Adam Smith. He also drew
inspiration from the work of his father, Daniel Malthus,
who was a political economist.
 Adam Smith on theory of laissez faire and the
understanding of market mechanism.
 David Hume on empirical approach to analyzing
population dynamics and resource constraints.
 Daniel Malthus in political economy.
 Population Theory:
 Malthus' most famous work is "An Essay on the Principle
of Population," first published in 1798. His central thesis
was that population tends to grow exponentially, while
the means of subsistence only increase arithmetically. In
other words, population has the potential to outstrip
the availability of resources.
 Poor Laws:
 Malthus was critical of the Poor Laws in England, which
provided assistance to the poor.
 He argued that such assistance would encourage population
growth among the poor, exacerbating the problem of
overpopulation.
 He believed that helping the poor would only lead to more
mouths to feed without a corresponding increase in resources.
 Further, he advocate that the state should not recognize the
right of the poor to receive support; and should abolish the
poor law.
 Population Checks:
 Malthus proposed two types of checks that would limit population
growth to avoid surpassing the available resources:
 Positive Checks: Factors that increase the death rate, such as
famine, disease, and war.
 Preventive Checks: Measures that decrease the birth rate, such as
later marriages and abstinence.
 According to Malthus, these checks were necessary to maintain a
balance between population and resources.
 Malthusian Population Trap
 Is the idea that higher level of foods production created by more
advanced agricultural techniques create higher population levels,
which then leads to food shortage because the higher population
needs to live on limited land that would have previously used to
crops.
 Market Gluts:
 Malthus also discussed the concept of market gluts,
suggesting that if agricultural production increased
rapidly, it could lead to overproduction and a
subsequent collapse in prices. This could negatively
impact farmers, leading to economic instability.
 Promoting Economic Growth versus Improving Living
Standards:
 Malthus' views were often contrasted with those of
economists like David Ricardo, who believed in the
possibility of sustained economic growth. Malthus was
more pessimistic, emphasizing the natural limits
imposed by population growth.
 While Malthus acknowledged the potential for
technological progress and increased agricultural
productivity, he believed that these gains would
ultimately be absorbed by population growth, leaving
living standards largely unchanged.