WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN FOOD PRODUCTION

AND POPULATION GROWTH?

Share of Global Population per Continent,

1700-2000

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1700

1740

1780

1820

1860

1900

1940

1980

Oceania

Asia

Middle East

CIS

Africa

Europe

Latin America

North America

Malthus’ Theory of Population Growth

In 1798 Thomas Malthus published

his views on the effect of population

on food supply. His theory has two

basic principles:

Population grows at a geometric rate

i.e. 1, 2, 4, 16, 32, etc.

Food production increases at an

arithmetic rate i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.

Thomas Malthus

Malthus (cont.)

The consequence of these two principles is that eventually, population will exceed the capacity of agriculture to support the new population numbers. Population would rise until a limit to growth was reached. Further growth would be limited when:

• Negative checks - postponement of marriage (lowering of fertility rate), abstinence, increased cost of food etc.

• Positive checks - famine, war, disease, would increase the death rate.

Malthusian ideas are often supported by Western governments because it highlights the problem of too many mouths to feed, rather than the uneven distribution of resources.

Do you agree with Malthus’ observations?

Instructions

Is the Malthusian Theory relevant today?

Refer to your handouts.

Use Paul’s Wheel of Reasoning to build your

argument.

As you present your arguments, the listening groups

will use the Ladder of Feedback to give your

response.