Malthusian theory

Definition

The Malthusian theory, developed by Thomas Malthus, suggests that population growth will eventually outpace the availability of resources, leading to a crisis. It argues that population increases geometrically while food production only grows arithmetically.

Related terms

Neo-Malthusianism: A modern update of the Malthusian theory that incorporates other factors like resource depletion and environmental degradation.

Cornucopian theory: An opposing view to the Malthusian theory, it suggests that human ingenuity and technological advancements will always find ways to overcome resource scarcity.

Demographic transition model: A framework analyzing how populations change over time based on birth rates, death rates, and economic development.