Malthus vs. Boserup - F. o. F. Flashcards
What was was the publication on which Malthusian theory was based and when was it published?
- ‘Essays on the Principle of Population Growth’
- published 1798
What were the relationships Malthus identified as being associated with population growth and food supply growth?
- Exponential population growth
- Linear food supply growth
What was Malthus’ main argument about population?
- A population ceiling or limit to which the population could increase to
- If it grew beyond that, people would have to starve
What were preventative checks and give two examples and where they were used?
- Measures taken to prevent the population ceiling being breeched
- eg. absence from sex and from marriage, used in China
What are positive checks, give two examples and give examples of where they occurred?
- Consequences of breeching the population ceiling that takes the system towards equilibrium
- eg lack of food, war, disease, occurred in Ireland (potato famine), Afghanistan conflict
Should Malthusian theory support modern contraception?
- Yes as it is an example of a preventative check
What is Malthus’ view of food aid?
- Unsustainable
- Artificial way of sustaining a population that has exceeded its population ceiling
According to Malthusian theory, what does optimum population relate to?
- Access to resources
- Amount of resources
How did the industrial revolution impact global food security?
- Caused rapid growth of agricultural production
- Intensification regarding labour and capitol
- Extension of farming
What is the well-known quote associated with Esther Boserup’s theory of food security?
- ‘Necessity is the mother of all invention’
When was Boserup’s theory published?
- 1965
What did Boserup’s theory argue?
- Resources, knowledge and technology increase production
How did agricultural production increase pre-industrial revolution?
- Population growth
Outline how Boserup came to her theory.
- Examined land-use systems by intensity of production
- Least-shifting cultivation - < 1 per century
- Most multi cropping systems - > 1 per year
Give an example of multi cropping systems.
- Cabbage and sweetcorn in the same field at the same time
