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An Essay on the Principle of Population

By T. R. Malthus
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About This Book

The author argues that population tends to increase faster than subsistence, producing pressures that limit long-term social improvement; he distinguishes preventive checks (moral restraint, delayed marriage) from positive checks (famine, disease, war) and examines how these mechanisms keep population near resource limits. He critiques optimistic theories that assume unbounded perfectibility of society, analyzes economic and psychological factors affecting reproduction and poverty, and sketches implications for public policy, charity, and social reform while acknowledging limits of available evidence and calling for careful empirical inquiry.

About the Author

Malthus, T. R. portrait

T. R. Malthus

Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834) was an English cleric and scholar, best known for his influential theories on population growth and its implications for society. His seminal work, "An Essay on the Principle of Population," published in 1798, argued that population growth would inevitably outpace food production, leading to widespread famine and societal challenges. Malthus's ideas sparked significant debate and laid the groundwork for modern demography and economics. He also contributed to political economy with works such as "An Inquiry into the Nature and Progress of Rent" and "Definitions in Political Economy." His insights continue to resonate in discussions about sustainability and resource management.

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