Which of the following statements best describes the Malthusian view ...
- In his 1798 work, An Essay on the Principle of Population, Malthus examined the relationship between population growth and resources. From this, he developed the Malthusian theory of population growth in which he wrote that population growth occurs exponentially, so it increases according to birth rate. On the other hand, food production increases arithmetically (linear), so it only increases at given points in time. Malthus wrote that, left unchecked, populations can outgrow their resources. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.
- Marx believed that the nature of economic relations in Europe4 s industrial societies was the central problem for the world's rapidly growing population. Marx dismiss Malthusian notion that the rising world population, rather than capitalism, was the cause of ills. Marx"s argued that when society is well ordered, increases in the population should lead to greater wealth, not hunger and misery. In contrast, he saw that the problem was the evils of the capitalist system. Marx was of the view that this problem is only possible in a capitalist society and not rising world population,
- The demographic transition theory is a generalised description of the changing pattern of mortality, fertility and growth rates as societies move from one demographic regime to another. According to this theory, economic development has the effect of bringing about a reduction in the death rate.
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Which of the following statements best describes the Malthusian view ...
The Malthusian view of population growth and development can be summarized as follows:
Population growth is potentially exponential while the growth of resources is linear.
Explanation:
1. Thomas Malthus, an English economist and demographer, proposed his theory on population in the late 18th century. According to Malthus, population has the potential to grow at an exponential rate, outstripping the growth of resources such as food, land, and water, which can only increase at a linear rate.
2. Malthus argued that population tends to grow geometrically (exponentially), doubling every generation, while resources can only increase arithmetically (linearly), adding a fixed amount per unit of time. This implies that population growth would eventually outpace resource growth, leading to scarcity and competition for resources.
3. Malthus believed that population growth is primarily driven by natural factors such as fertility rates and survival rates, which tend to remain relatively constant over time. On the other hand, the growth of resources is limited by factors such as agricultural productivity, technological advancements, and availability of land.
4. As population increases, the demand for resources also increases. Eventually, the limited availability of resources would lead to a struggle for survival, resulting in famine, disease, and other forms of population control. Malthus referred to this as the "Malthusian catastrophe."
5. Malthus' theory had significant implications for economic development. He believed that population growth should be limited in order to prevent the depletion of resources and the occurrence of widespread poverty and suffering. He advocated for moral restraint, such as delayed marriages and abstinence, as well as positive checks like war and disease, to control population growth.
In conclusion, the Malthusian view of population growth and development suggests that population has the potential to grow exponentially, while resources can only increase at a linear rate. This mismatch between population growth and resource availability can lead to scarcity and competition, ultimately resulting in a population crisis unless population growth is adequately controlled.
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