Malthusian theory and_its_criticisms

Tries to explore the the theory, its usefulness and criticism in the contemporary world.

1. MALTHUSIAN THEORY AND ITS CRITICISMS PRESENTED BY: TAURAI CHAKO SMELINKOSI MBEDZI PETER KANETSA

2. BRIEF BACKGROUND The theory was proposed by Thomas Robert Malthus in 1798. These were his views on the effects of population on food supply.

3. ASSUMPTIONS Food is necessary to the life of people and, therefore exercises a strong check on population. Population is necessarily limited by the means of subsistence, that is food. Population increases faster than food production whereas population increases in geometric progression(2,4,6,8,10). Food production increases in arithmetic progression(1,2,3,4,5). Passion between the sexes is necessary and will remain unchanged. Population always increases when the means of subsistence increases, unless prevented by some powerful checks.

4. ASSUMPTIONS Food is necessary for human existence The effects of food supply and population growth have to be kept equal to reach what is called the Malthusian Catastrophe. If this happens, further growth in population would be prevented

5. Assumptions continued There are 2 types of checks which can keep population on a level with the means of subsistence. These are: Positive checks & Preventive checks

6. Assumptions continued Preventive checks They exercise their influence on the growth of the population by bringing down the birth rate. This includes abstinence, postponement of marriage which lowers the fertility rate Preventive checks are those checks which are applied by man They arise from man`s fore-sight which enables him to see distant consequences. Malthus saw the distress which frequently visits those who have large families.

7. Positive checks Positive checks exercise their influence on the growth of population by increasing the death rate. These are applied by nature. Positive checks to population are various and include every cause, whether arising from vice or misery which in any degree contributes to shorten the natural duration of human life. These may include hard labour, exposure to the seasons, extreme poverty, bad nursing of children, common diseases, wars, plagues and famines.

8. CRITICISM OF THE THEORY In contrast to Malthus, Ester Boserup emphasized the positive aspects of a large population She suggested that the more people there are, the more hands there are to work. She argued that necessity is the mother of all invention.

9. CRITICISMS CONTINUED Rapid advances in technology and accumulating capital in advanced countries have been able to strike a balance between population growth and food supply. This has been done through the use of fertilisers, pesticides, better seeds and other agricultural machinery. In fact in countries like India due to the Green Revolution, the rate of increase of food production has been greater than the rate of population growth. As such it is not always the case that population growth exceeds food supply as postulated by Malthus.

10. CRITICISMS CONTINUED Malthus` theory was context specific, only limited to England. He was basing on the unavailability of land in England at that time, thus resulting in low yields. Critics argue that he should have considered all types of production in considering the question of optimum size of population. Malthus gave no proof of his assertion that population increased exactly in geometric progression and food production increased exactly in arithmetic progression.

11. CRITICISMS CONTINUED Growth of population and food supply cannot be experienced to show the precision or accuracy of such series. William(1996) argued that Malthus either failed to see or simply refused to acknowledge that technological progress was possible and that its end result was a higher standard of living, not a lower one. Improved and efficient means of transportation can disapprove Malthus` view that food production could not keep up with growing population.

12. Criticisms continued To bring the point closer to home, Zimbabwe has been on the receiving end of droughts and poor harvests. Food supply has been coming to Zimbabwe by road, rail or air through international organisations like USAID, CRS and Christian Care among others. Henin (1991) argues that migration has helped maintain the balance between population growth and subsistence. Weeks(1996) states that the adoption of birth control broke the connection between intercourse and fertility that seemed to be natural to Malthus.

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