Malthusian Theory on Overpopulation FRQ. Time Frame Theory was written by Malthus in 1798 The Theory...

Malthusian Theory on Overpopulation FRQ

Time Frame Theory was written by Malthus in 1798

The Theory Food growth is linear

What would a farmer have to do to if they wanted to produce 5 units

of wheat?

= 1 unit of

wheat

= 1 acre

Plant one more acre

Time

Amou

nt

The problem: At the time, the amount of

arable land was finite

The Theory

Food growth is linear

Time

Amou

nt

Population growth is exponential

J-Curve(Doubling Time)

Food growth is linear

Time

Amou

nt

Population growth is exponential

The Theory

Population will eventually outpace food

The only way to produce lower birth rates is moral

restraint. Otherwise disease, famine, or war will check

population

Why do some geographers today believe Malthus’ theory CAN be used to predict future population issues?

Population has generally grown as

predicted by Malthus

This growth is most pronounced in the Developing

World . . . WHY?

Lack of access to contraceptives and low levels

of education for women

Population has been rising

quicker than predicted by

Malthus due to the diffusion of

medical technology to

developing world

With lowered infant mortality and increasing life expectancy, population has exploded in the

developing world

But fertility rates have not dropped fast enough in these countries

Explosion of population


Food Supply has

increased, but it has

not kept up with

population increase

In many developing countries, a large percentage of people still practice

subsistence agriculture


Since subsistence agriculture is inefficient, overall food production is

low in these countries

Many countries are unable to adopt the agricultural innovations that have led to

increased food production

Food Supply has

increased, but it has

not kept up with

population increase


Desertification and overuse of land is limiting the amount of arable land

available

Farmland is being

converted to urban use


Over Population is

putting a strain on resources and the

environment


Population has generally not grown as predicted by Malthus

Due to global increases in development and increased access to contraceptives

Why do some geographers today believe Malthus’ theory CAN NOT be used to predict future population issues?


Food Supply has grown faster than


Time

Amou

nt

With improvements in food production food can grow exponentially

Food production as predicted by

Malthus

One example the Green Revolution with

genetically modified crops, multicropping

which increased yields


Food Supply has grown faster than


Time

Greater efficiencies such as mechanization

and industrial agriculture

Our ability to preserve food and/or distribute food to areas of need is much greater than during Malthus’ time.

This means

more food is

available to more people

globally


Your Task

What is a FRQ?

In 1798 Thomas Robert Malthus published An Essay on the Principle of Population in which he made many arguments about population growth.

A. Identify and explain TWO reasons why some geographers today believe Malthus’ theory can be used predict future population issues.

B. Identify and explain TWO reasons why some geographers today believe Malthus’ theory cannot be used to predict

future population issues.

Malthusian Theory on Overpopulation FRQ. Time Frame Theory was written by Malthus in 1798 The Theory...

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