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The classical economist, Thomas Malthus, in his work An Essay on the Principle of Population (1798) created a theory on population - Leaving Cert Economics - Question e - 2012
Question e
The classical economist, Thomas Malthus, in his work An Essay on the Principle of Population (1798) created a theory on population. (i) Explain Malthus’s theory on ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The classical economist, Thomas Malthus, in his work An Essay on the Principle of Population (1798) created a theory on population - Leaving Cert Economics - Question e - 2012
Step 1
Explain Malthus’s theory on population.
Answer
Malthus's theory on population posits that population growth occurs in a geometric progression (2, 4, 8, 16, etc.), while food supply increases in an arithmetic progression (2, 3, 4, 5, etc.). This fundamental disparity leads to a significant concern: as the population grows exponentially, it will eventually outstrip the means of subsistence, resulting in famine, disease, and other checks on population growth. Malthus emphasized that this natural limit would balance the population with the resources available.
He also pointed out that population dynamics tend to vary between different regions, leading to uneven distributions of population and resources worldwide, particularly between Less Developed Countries (LDCs) and Developed Countries (DCs).
Step 2
Is Malthus’s theory on population relevant today? Explain your answer.
Answer
Malthus's theory remains relevant today for several reasons. First, the rapid increase in global population, which has exceeded 7 billion, reflects Malthus's fears regarding unchecked population growth. Additionally, significant regions still experience disparity in resource distribution, particularly between LDCs and DCs.
However, Malthus's theory is also challenged by advancements in agricultural technology and food production, which have allowed for increased yields and better management of resources. For example, the development of high-yield crop varieties has mitigated some of the food scarcity issues discussed by Malthus.
While Malthus's concerns about population growth remain valid, current agricultural strategies and international cooperation to improve food distribution may indicate that his predictions about famine and resource shortages, while still relevant, are not entirely insurmountable.