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MALTHUSIAN THEORY

MALTHUSIAN THEORY. By Dr. J. Kivelia Department of Geography University of Dar es Salaam. OUTLINE. Malthusian & /Neo-Malthusians’ Theory Counter Malthusians’ Theories Esther Boserup Samir Amin Marxist Theories. Malthusian Theory.

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MALTHUSIAN THEORY

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  1. MALTHUSIAN THEORY By Dr. J. Kivelia Department of Geography University of Dar es Salaam

  2. OUTLINE • Malthusian & /Neo-Malthusians’ Theory • Counter Malthusians’ Theories • Esther Boserup • Samir Amin • Marxist Theories

  3. Malthusian Theory • A Theory on relationship between population growth and the environment • Pessimistic: Views population growth as a limitation to development • Basic arguments • Population growth exceeds the capacity of the earth resources • Population grows arithmetically • 1, 2, 4,8, 16, 32. ……. • Food production grows arithmetically • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. ………

  4. Illustration: Malthus Theory

  5. Consequences of the growth • Consequences: • Population will surpass equilibrium point, i.e. the balance between resources and capacity of the environment (optimum population) • Population will face a situation of vice and misery (hunger, famine diseases, conflicts over resources leading to wars, etc.) thus decimating the population • Population will decline to and past the optimum point before re-growing again • The trend will be a vicious circle, hindering both population growth and development

  6. Malthusian suggestions • Population checks of two types: • Positive checks (deaths) • Population reduced due to vice and misery - deaths from wars, diseases, etc • Negative checks (fertility control) • Moral constraints – delays & post-pondment of marriages, abstinence, etc. • Other natural methods of fertility control

  7. Strengths of Malthusian Theory • First proponent of a Theory of population and environment • There is a relationship between population growth and environmental resources • Human activities affect the capacity of the environment to feed the population • Deterioration in quality of the environment affects its capacity to meet the needs of the people, the consequent of which is increased poverty, poor health conditions, vice & misery, etc.

  8. Weaknesses of Malthusian Theories • Did not consider technological progress in harnessing environmental resources to meet peoples’ needs • Technology has improved food production significantly • Problem is not so much on population growth and capacity of the environment but on the rate of population growth and rate of technological improvements • Ignored the role of contraceptives in managing fertility and therefore controlling population growth • Ignored cultural changes emanating from modernisation

  9. Neo-Malthusians • Supports Malthus’ pessimistic views • Argue that earth resources will reach a point where they will be unable to meet peoples’ needs • Focus on trends of: • Population growth • Air pollution/CO2 in atmosphere • Declining ocean health • Biodiversity reductions • Land degradation

  10. Malthusians’ Opponents • Are optimistic about the relationship between population growth and the capacity of the environmental resources to meet its basic needs • View population as a resource; a catalyst for development • Argue that technological improvements can reduce adverse impacts of human activities (on environment) and improve economic efficiency • New/improved ways of using resources • High Yielding Varieties • Discovery of new resources Julian Simon, Herman Kahn, Esther Boserup, etc. ;

  11. The Philosophical Division • There is a basic philosophical division between optimists and pessimists. • Pessimists foresee potential political, social, and environmental deterioration and collapse. They make their case by referring to current trends such as: • Rapid world population growth; growing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; declining health of oceans; reductions in biodiversity; and degradation of land. Examples include: • Paul Ehrlich the author of the Population Bomb • Donnella Meadows author of The Limits to Growth.

  12. The Philosophical Division (cont’d) • Optimists believe that people have creative capacity to overcome potential environmental harm resulting from a growing population and intense economic activity. They point to: • general improvements in human health and life expectancy, rising per capital incomes, remarkable advances in food production, and technical innovations that can reduce environmental pollution or improve the efficiency of economic activity. • Some of them see population growth as a stimulant to human innovation and genius. Examples include economists Herman Kahn and Julian Simon.

  13. Food for Thought • Discuss the key points of dispute between optimists and pessimists

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