Who was Thomas Robert Malthus?
Q: Who was Thomas Robert Malthus?
A: Thomas Robert Malthus was an economist who lived during the industrial revolution. He is best known for his book, An Essay on the Principle of Population, which describes the Malthusian growth model.
Q: What did Malthus say about population growth?
A: According to Malthus' theory, population growth is exponential while food supply only grows arithmetically. This means that if there are no limits to population growth, it will not be possible to produce enough food for everyone and this could lead to a "Malthusian catastrophe".
Q: What were some of the ideas developed from Malthus' work?
A: The Tory party had paternalistic ideas such as charity for the poor which Mathus argued would not work and would only lead to increased numbers of the poor. These ideas were developed into Whig economic ideas such as The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 which brought in construction of workhouses despite riots and arson.
Q: Who supported these ideas?
A: These ideas were widespread in progressive social circles and one supporter was novelist Harriet Martineau whose circle included Charles Darwin. Darwin's theory was also influenced by Mathus' work.
Q: What did Karl Marx think about Malthussianism?
A: Karl Marx criticized Mathussianism as being nothing more than a schoolboyish plagiary of other authors and postulated that progress in science and technology would allow for indefinite exponential population growth.
Q: Are people still concerned with overpopulation today?
A: Yes, many people today still believe that Mathus was right about human population growth getting out of hand.
