Malthusian Theory on Overpopulation FRQ Theory was written

Malthusian Theory on Overpopulation FRQ

Theory was written by Malthus in 1798 Time Frame Theory Food growth is linear Amount The problem: At the time, the amount of arable land was finite What would a farmer have to do to if they wanted to produce 5 units of wheat? = 1 unit of wheat Time Plant one more acre = 1 acre

Food growth is linear Theory Population growth is exponential Amount J-Curve (Doubling Time) Time

Food growth is linear Theory Population growth is exponential Amount The only way to produce lower birth rates is moral Population will restraint. Otherwise disease, eventually outpace food famine, or war will check population Time

Why do some geographers today believe Malthus’ theory CAN be used to predict future population issues? Population has generally grown as predicted by Malthus Lack of access to This growth is most contraceptives and low levels pronounced in the Developing of education for women World. . . WHY?

Why do some geographers today believe Malthus’ theory CAN be used to predict future population issues? Population has been rising quicker than predicted by Malthus due to the diffusion of medical technology to developing world Explosion of population With lowered infant mortality and increasing life But fertility rates have not dropped fast enough in expectancy, population has exploded in these countries developing world

Why do some geographers today believe Malthus’ theory CAN be used to predict future population issues? Food Supply has increased, but it has not kept up with population increase Many countries are unable to adopt Since subsistence agriculture is the In many developing countries, a large agricultural innovations have ledisto inefficient, overall foodthat production percentage of people still practice increased foodagriculture production low in these countries subsistence

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

Why do some geographers today believe Malthus’ theory CAN be used to predict future population issues? Farmland is being converted to urban use

Why do some geographers today believe Malthus’ theory CAN be used to predict future population issues? Over Population is putting a strain on resources and the environment

Why do some geographers today believe Malthus’ theory CAN NOT be used to predict future population issues? 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? One example the Green Revolution with genetically modified crops, multicropping which increased yields Amount Food Supply has grown faster than predicted by Malthus With improvements in food production food can grow exponentially Food production as predicted by Malthus Time

Why do some geographers today believe Malthus’ theory CAN NOT be used to predict future population issues? Food Supply has grown faster than predicted by Malthus Greater efficiencies such as mechanization and industrial agriculture Time

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