2.4 — Thomas Malthus & The Population Principle — Class Content
Overview
Today we cover Thomas Malthus, and his theory on population, and connect it to Classical Economics.
Readings
Required Readings:
- Thomas Malthus & Essay on the Principle of Population in Reader
- start Ch.5 “Ricardo and Malthus” in Landreth & Colander
- start Ch.3 “Population, Diminishing Returns and Rent” in Blaug
Recommended Readings:
The following Wikipedia entries can also provide more background:
Questions to Help Your Reading
What are Malthus’s two assumptions and what are their importance for his conclusions?
What is the difference between population growth and growth in agriculture?
What are Malthus’s “checks” against population?
Slides
Below, you can find the slides in two formats. Clicking the image will bring you to the html version of the slides in a new tab. The lower button will allow you to download a PDF version of the slides.
You can type h to see a special list of viewing options, and type o for an outline view of all the slides.
I suggest printing the slides beforehand and using them to take additional notes in class (not everything is in the slides)!
Assignments
Participation/Discussion Board Posts Due 8 PM Fri Sep 30
This week’s graded discussion is worth 5 points, and can be a combination of discussion in class, and/or posts on the Blackboard Discussion Board by 8 PM this Friday September 30.
Tournament Votes
The first round of the Pre-Classical division of the “Most Interesting Economist in History” tournament is live. Please post your votes in the discussion board.