Thomas Robert Malthus
English priest and economist known for his theory on population growth and resource limits.
Chronology: 1766-02-13 – 1834-12-23
Origins & Early Life
Thomas Robert Malthus (; 13/14 February 1766 – 29 December 1834) was an English economist, Christian priest, and scholar influential in the fields of political economy and demography. In his 1798 book An Essay on the Principle of Population, Malthus observed that an increase in a nation's food production improved the well-being of the population, but the improvement was temporary because it led to population growth, which in turn restored the original per capita production level. In other words, humans had a propensity to use abundance for population growth rather than for maintaining a high standard of living, a view and stance that has become known as the "Malthusian trap" or the "Malthusian spectre". Populations had a tendency to grow until the lower class suffered hardship, want, and greater susceptibility to war, famine, and disease, a pessimistic view that is sometimes referred to as a Malthusian catastrophe.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
Malthus wrote in opposition to the popular view in 18th-century Europe that saw society as improving and in principle as perfectible. Malthus considered population growth as inevitable whenever conditions improved, thereby precluding real progress towards a utopian society...
Enduring Legacy & Impact
The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.
Source: Wikipedia