Description
Thomas Malthus was one of the first scholars to write about the issues of population growth. He feared that humans would surpass Earth's carrying capacity which would lead to disease, suffering, and ultimately death. He believed that higher wages were the cause of population growth, which was also how the economist Adam Smith explain this phenomenon. However, for Smith, population growth was necessary for economic growth and would ultimately result in greater prosperity in the long run. Both writers failed to recognize how the changing socioeconomic status of women would affect growth rates. Ultimately, it is the predictions of Smith that have held true so far. In fact, many contemporary writers have criticized Malthus for his failure to recognize how technology is able to expand Earth's carrying capacity. However, as concerns about global warming continue to grow, there is still a possibility that it will be Malthus who will be proven correct in the very end.
Identifier
Major: Economics and Business Management
Minor: Environmental Biology
Campbellsport, Wisconsin
ECO 481: Economics Senior Seminar
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