Theory Of Population SS1 Economics Lesson Note

THE MALTHUSIAN THEORY OF POPULATION

The Malthusian theory of population is the outcome of an essay titled ‘An essay on population written in 1798 by Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus, an Anglican clergyman and a well-known political economist.  The essay he wrote was influenced greatly by the rate at which the population in Europe at that time was growing at a very fast rate.  In his essay, he highlighted the relationship between population and means of subsistence.

THE MAIN FEATURES OF MALTHUSIAN THEORY

The main views or features of the Malthusian theory about population are;

That population was growing at a geometric progression such as 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 etc. while food production or supply was growing at an arithmetic progression such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.

That there is a tendency for all living things to grow beyond the food available to them.

Unless population increase is matched with means of subsistence, negative and positive checks will come into force.

The checks can be war, diseases, epidemics and famine.

That population is essentially limited by the means of subsistence

DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY

Demographic transition theory is concerned with the historical population growth of a society.  It attempts to explain the relationship between fertility and mortality on population growth.  The theory explains how all developed countries in contemporary times have passed through three identical stages of population history

STAGES OF THE THEORY

STAGE 1 (PRE-TRANSITION PHASE OR STAGE)

This stage is characterized by a high fertility (birth) rate and a high mortality (death) rate.

In this stage, the population is fairly stable, static or decreasing or increasing at a low rate.  It is a feature of pre-industrial society.

STAGE II (TRANSITIONAL STAGE OR PHASE)

In this stage, both fertility and mortality are declining.  Fertility declines less rapidly at first and then grows more rapidly than mortality leading to an increase in population.  It is a period of population explosion as a result of high birth rates and low death rates.  This is a feature of an economy at the industrial take-off.  It is a feature of a developing economy.

STAGE III (POST-TRANSITION PHASE OR STAGE)

Both fertility and mortality are low and under control at this stage.  The growth rate is controlled as the population remains, more or less stable i.e. it is a period of low birth rate and low death rates which leads to little or no population growth.  It is a feature of an advanced economy.