Question

Who among the following stated that the number of people would increase faster than the food supply?

• A. Taylor
• B. Blache
• C. Malthus
• D. Cressy

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

In addressing the concern of whether the number of people would increase at a rate faster than the food supply, we turn to the pivotal insights of Thomas Malthus, a classical economist and scholar renowned for his work in demographic trends. Malthus postulated his theory in the late 18th century, which has since been influential in the field of Geography and beyond. 

Malthusian Theory: According to Malthus, population increases in a geometric ratio (exponentially), whereas food supply can only increase in an arithmetic ratio (linearly). He argued that if unchecked, population growth would outpace agricultural production, leading to widespread scarcity and famine.

This theory is captured in his seminal work, "An Essay on the Principle of Population," first published in 1798. In it, Malthus suggested that while technological advancements could temporarily increase food production, the inherent growth tendencies of the population would still eventually lead to resource shortages.

In conclusion, the correct answer is therefore identified as: Malthus, whose observations have had a lasting impact on demographic studies and the examination of resource management challenges in the face of population growth.

Answer 2

Thomas Malthus, an English economist and demographer, proposed the theory in the late 18th century that population growth would inevitably outpace the production of food. According to Malthus, population grows geometrically (exponentially), while food production grows arithmetically (linearly). This imbalance, he argued, would lead to a situation where the population would exceed the capacity of the land to produce food, resulting in widespread famine, disease, and hardship.

Malthus believed that this imbalance would lead to a "positive check" on population growth, such as famine, disease, and war, which would reduce the population back to a sustainable level. Additionally, Malthus argued that, in the absence of preventive checks (such as moral restraint or birth control), population would continue to grow until it reached a point where the food supply could no longer sustain it.

Though Malthus' predictions did not fully materialize due to advances in agriculture and technology that have significantly increased food production, his theory remains influential in discussions of population, food security, and environmental sustainability. Modern critics point out that the relationship between population growth and food supply is more complex than Malthus originally proposed, with factors like technological innovation, economic development, and distribution playing key roles in determining food availability.