Malthus: For and Against

About this Collection

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries a debate arose over the impact that rapidly increasing population would have on the standard of living. The pessimistic school, represented by Malthus, argued that population would inevitably increase at a geometric rate, whilst agricultural output would only increase arithmetically. Thus, the standard of living of ordinary people would suffer unless they practised some kiind of family planning and restraint. The optimists, many of whom were free market economists, argued that human ingenuity, more scientific agricultural practises, and efficiencies of the free market would cope with expanding populations and that, in fact, life would get much better for ordinary people.

Titles & Essays

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An Essay on the Principle of Population [1798, 1st ed.]

Thomas Robert Malthus (author)

This is the first edition of Malthus’s Essay on the Principle of Population. In this work Malthus argues that there is a disparity between the rate of growth of population (which increases geometrically) and the rate of growth of…

An Essay on the Principle of Population, 2 vols. [1826, 6th ed.]

Thomas Robert Malthus (author)

This is the 6th expanded edition of Essay on the Principle of Population. In this work Malthus argues that there is a disparity between the rate of growth of population (which increases geometrically) and the rate of growth of…

An Essay on the Principle of Population, vol. 1 [1826, 6th ed.]

Thomas Robert Malthus (author)

Vol. 1 of the 6th expanded edition of Essay on the Principle of Population. In this work Malthus argues that there is a disparity between the rate of growth of population (which increases geometrically) and the rate of growth of…

An Essay on the Principle of Population, vol. 2 [1826, 6th ed.]

Thomas Robert Malthus (author)

Vol. 2 of the 6th expanded edition of Essay on the Principle of Population. In this work Malthus argues that there is a disparity between the rate of growth of population (which increases geometrically) and the rate of growth of…

Letters to Mr. Malthus, and A Catechism of Political Economy

Jean-Baptiste Say (author)

Say replies to Malthus’s negative views about the impact of population on the well-being of workers, and provides a popularization of his economic views.

Of Population. An Enquiry concerning the Power of Increase in the Numbers of Mankind

William Godwin (author)

A lengthy and belated reply to Malthus by the radical individualist Godwin. Whereas Malthus took a pessimistic view of the pressures of population growth, Godwin was more optimistic about the capacity of people to limit the growth of…

Two Lectures on Population

Thomas Robert Malthus (author)

Senior generally agrees with Malthus on population but there are some differences which are brought out in the correspondence between them.

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Quotes

Liberty

Milton Friedman and the Free Society

Milton Friedman