The Battle of Checks:
Preventive and Positive Checks
"Population, when unchecked, goes on doubling itself every 25 years or increases in a geometrical ratio."
Thomas Malthus, an English economist and demographer, proposed the theory of population known as Malthusianism in the late 18th century. He argued that population growth tends to outstrip the growth of resources, leading to misery and poverty. Malthus identified two types of checks or controls on population growth,
- Positive Checks
- Preventive Checks
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Malthus argued that preventive checks were necessary for societies to avoid the negative consequences of overpopulation, such as resource scarcity and widespread poverty. He believed that individuals should exercise moral restraint and make responsible decisions about family size to prevent the population from growing beyond the means of subsistence.
Malthus' theory of population is often summarized by the statement: "Population grows geometrically (exponentially), while resources grow arithmetically (linearly)." In other words, the human population tends to increase at a faster rate than the resources needed to sustain it. As a result, Malthus believed that without some form of population control, a population would eventually exceed its available resources, leading to poverty, famine, and suffering.
It's important to note that Malthus' theory has been both criticized and debated over the years. Critics argue that it oversimplifies the relationship between population and resources and doesn't take into account technological advancements and other factors that can increase resource availability. Nonetheless, Malthus' ideas continue to be influential in discussions about population, resources, and sustainability.
Written by: Pirunthapana & Yalini
Reference
- Economics Online - what is the Malthusian population theory https://www.economicsonline.co.uk/managing_the_economy/what-is-the-malthusian-theory-of-population.html/
- Vaia-Malthusian Theory https://www.hellovaia.com/explanations/humangeography/population-geography/malthusian-theory/
- Intelligent economist Malthusian TheoryofPopulation https://www.intelligenteconomist.com/malthusian-theory/
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