An Introduction to Thomas Malthus' An Essay on the Principle of Population- Macat Economics Analysis

• Sedentary agriculture was born 12.000 years ago, and it made possible for populations to develop.

• Food is the fundamental factor for human beings’ life.

• According to Thomas Malthus, population numbers change according to the suitable resources of a country.

• A balanced situation is called the subsistence level.

• So too much food or too little causes a leveling of papulation.

• Too much food does not mean necessarily a growth in population grouwth.

• By the example of the school of fish one can understand that:

- when food increases, population increases

- but while food continues increasing in a constant way

- population will grow in an esponential exponential one

- as a result, the exceeding population will die and population and resources will return to balance.

• Such levelling is called positive check by Malthus.

• Malthus criticised the Elizabethans poor law.

• Can such levelling be beaten? Yes, throught through preventive checks.