Malthusian Population Growth Theory

Today we discussed Malthusian theory.  Thomas Malthus in 1798 postulated a theory that population, which grows exponentially/geometrically (see the curved line on the graph), would outpace food production, which grew in a linear/ arithmetic fashion (see the straight line on the graph).  Unfortunately his theory did not predict the innovations within the industrial and 2nd agricultural revolutions which made food production much more efficient and allowed food production to outpace population growth.  Neo-Malthusians, which have adopted Malthus' theory to more modern times, say the theory is still valid and point to LDC's in stage 2 of the Demographic Transition model as evidence since they have outgrown their food resources.  Other theorists: Karl Marx said it is not about just outpacing food, it is about the unequal distribution of food.  He says that there is plenty as long as we distribute it properly.  Boserup's theory says that we must increase our use of subsistence farming, which essentially means that more of us must grow our own food.   Also, it should be mentioned that birth rates since the 1980's have been  in decline through much of the world due mainly to increased development (leads to greater education for women) and the distribution and availability of contraceptives worldwide.

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