Thomas Malthus’ Theory On Population Essay, Research Paper
Thomas Malthus?s studies on the growth of
population led to the development of the field of demography. According to
Malthus, population tends to increase faster than the supply of food available
for its needs. Whenever a relative gain occurs in food production over
population growth, a higher rate of population increase is stimulated; on the
other hand if population grows too much relative to food production, the growth
is checked by famine, disease, and war. Malthus?s theory contradicted the optimistic
belief prevailing in the early 19th century, that a society?s
fertility would lead to economic progress. He advocated sexual abstinence or
restraint to control population increases and acknowledged the role of the
plagues, wars, and epidemics in containing overpopulation. Malthus specifically
suggested that people marry later and have smaller families. Due to these
ideas, economics earned its name as ?The Dismal Science?. But it won
considerable support and was often used as an argument against efforts to
better the condition of the poor. KEY POINTS TO
REMEMBER Over
Population :There is too great a population to support with the actual or potential
resources available. Under
Population:There is too small a population to support
with the actual or potential resources available. Optimum
Population :The population is the right size to efficiently exploit all of the
available resources. Preventative
Checks :This is what Malthus believed to be the move towards later marriages,
which in turn would lead to fewer children and therefore lower the birth rate. Positive
Checks :Things which would have an effect of increasing the death rate i.e.
famine, war, disease, infanticide. Carrying
capacity :This is the largest population that the environment of a particular
area can carry or support. ???????????????????????????????????????????? ???? ?????????????????????????????????????
? ??????????????????????????????? Was Malthus relevant in
Britain?In the Nineteenth century Britain had a very high population growth
rate. This was mainly due to a high birth rate and a decreasing death rate, (Demographic Transition Model stage 2).But
Britain did not reach its carrying capacity because of the industrial
revolution, increased agricultural output, better transport = more trade, and
better storage and refrigeration meant that food could be kept for longer.Is Malthus relevant today? Malthus?s theory is being taken more seriously because he has described
the situation that has been and is occurring in many of the poorer countries. n
example is Bangladesh, it has had many natural disasters including floods and
hurricanes? and is having trouble
feeding it?s population. Other countries seen to be experiencing positive
checks are Ethiopia, Somalia, Mali, etc. These countries all have high birth
rates and low food production.??????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????