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| | ==Economist== | | ==Economist== |
| | Malthus was an important economist in the field of [[classical economic]]. He called economics "the dismal science," believing that the failure and collapse of the economy was inevitable. | | Malthus was an important economist in the field of [[classical economic]]. He called economics "the dismal science," believing that the failure and collapse of the economy was inevitable. |
| − | His professorship allowed him time for his writing. He published six editions of his ''Essay'' as well as several economics books, including "An Investigation of the Cause of the Present High Price of Provisions," (1800) in which he argued that food prices were increasing because of the large amount of money being spent to support the poor; ''An Inquiry into the Nature and Progress of Rent'' (1815); ''Grounds of an Opinion on the Policy of Restricting the Importation of Foreign Corn'' (1815); and the textbook ''Principles of Political Economy'' (1820).<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=IygEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR7&dq=inauthor:malthus&num=30&as_brr=1 online edition]</ref> Most of his writing concerned economic issues of the day such as food prices, corn laws, and rent. He also explored the general principles of economics and is seen as the first economist to formulate the theory of diminishing returns as the explanation of land rent, However Ricardo's later and more explicit exposition replaced it. The Keynesian emphasis on the importance of effective demand and the dangers of underconsumption has its roots in Malthus' ideas. Malthus' economics (apart from his demography) was rejected by most 19th century economists, who disliked Malthus' refutation of Ricardo's labor theory of value, his opposition to free trade and his defense of agricultural tariffs.<ref>Malthus reversed himself in 1826 and came out in favor of free trade. Samuel Hollander, "Malthus's Abandonment of Agricultural Protectionism: a Discovery in the History of Economic Thought." ''American Economic Review'' 1992 82(3): 650-659. Issn: 0002-8282 Fulltext in Jstor and Ebsco</ref> His population thesis makes Malthus one of the first economists to construct a theory of economic dynamics, and equally, a theory of social development, with the "principle of population" as the mainspring of progress. | + | His professorship allowed him time for his writing. He published six editions of his ''Essay'' as well as several economics books, including "An Investigation of the Cause of the Present High Price of Provisions," (1800) in which he argued that food prices were increasing because of the large amount of money being spent to support the poor; ''An Inquiry into the Nature and Progress of Rent'' (1815); ''Grounds of an Opinion on the Policy of Restricting the Importation of Foreign Corn'' (1815); and the textbook ''Principles of Political Economy'' (1820).<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=IygEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR7&dq=inauthor:malthus&num=30&as_brr=1 online edition]</ref> Most of his writing concerned economic issues of the day such as food prices, corn laws, and rent. He also explored the general principles of economics and is seen as the first economist to formulate the theory of diminishing returns as the explanation of land rent, However Ricardo's later and more explicit exposition replaced it. The Keynesian emphasis on the importance of effective demand and the dangers of underconsumption has its roots in Malthus' ideas. Malthus' economics (apart from his demography) was rejected by most 19th century economists, who disliked Malthus' refutation of Ricardo's labor theory of value, his opposition to free trade and his defense of agricultural tariffs.<ref>Malthus reversed himself in 1826 and came out in favor of free trade. Samuel Hollander, "Malthus's Abandonment of Agricultural Protectionism: a Discovery in the History of Economic Thought." ''American Economic Review'' 1992 82(3): 650-659. Issn: 0002-8282 Fulltext in Jstor and Ebsco</ref> His population thesis makes Malthus one of the first economists to construct a theory of economic dynamics, and equally, a theory of social development, with the "principle of population" as the mainspring of progress. |
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| | ==Theological background== | | ==Theological background== |
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| | ==Bibliography== | | ==Bibliography== |
| − | * James Bonar. ''Malthus and His Work'' (1885) 432 pages; classic old biography. [http://books.google.com/books?id=OMNX8zihLFEC&pg=PA1&dq=intitle:malthus&num=30&as_brr=1 online edition] | + | * James Bonar. ''Malthus and His Work'' (1885) 432 pages; classic old biography. [https://books.google.com/books?id=OMNX8zihLFEC&pg=PA1&dq=intitle:malthus&num=30&as_brr=1 online edition] |
| | * Paul Bowler. "Malthus, Darwin and the concept of struggle," ''Journal of the History of Ideas,'' 37 (1976), 631-50. | | * Paul Bowler. "Malthus, Darwin and the concept of struggle," ''Journal of the History of Ideas,'' 37 (1976), 631-50. |
| | * Walter Eltis. ''The Classical Theory of Economic Growth'' (1984) | | * Walter Eltis. ''The Classical Theory of Economic Growth'' (1984) |
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| | * Thomas Robert Malthus, ''The Works of Thomas Robert Malthus,'' 8 vol (1986) ed. by E. A. Wrigley and David Souden | | * Thomas Robert Malthus, ''The Works of Thomas Robert Malthus,'' 8 vol (1986) ed. by E. A. Wrigley and David Souden |
| | * Geoffrey Gilbert, ed. ''Malthus: Critical Responses'' (1998), what critics in 19th said about Malthus' ideas | | * Geoffrey Gilbert, ed. ''Malthus: Critical Responses'' (1998), what critics in 19th said about Malthus' ideas |
| − | * Thomas Robert Malthus. ''An Essay on the Principle of Population, Or, A View of Its Past and Present Effects on Human '' 6th edition (1826) [http://books.google.com/books?id=ngQAAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PR19&dq=inauthor:malthus&num=30&as_brr=1#PRA1-PR15,M1 online vol 1] [http://books.google.com/books?id=owQAAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=inauthor:malthus&num=30&as_brr=1#PPP9,M1 online version vol 2] | + | * Thomas Robert Malthus. ''An Essay on the Principle of Population, Or, A View of Its Past and Present Effects on Human '' 6th edition (1826) [https://books.google.com/books?id=ngQAAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PR19&dq=inauthor:malthus&num=30&as_brr=1#PRA1-PR15,M1 online vol 1] [https://books.google.com/books?id=owQAAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=inauthor:malthus&num=30&as_brr=1#PPP9,M1 online version vol 2] |
| − | * Thomas Robert Malthus. ''Parallel Chapters from the First and Second Editions of An Essay on the Principle of Population By Thomas Robert Malthus'' (1898) [http://books.google.com/books?id=otcjAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=inauthor:malthus&num=30&as_brr=1#PPR3,M1 online edition] | + | * Thomas Robert Malthus. ''Parallel Chapters from the First and Second Editions of An Essay on the Principle of Population By Thomas Robert Malthus'' (1898) [https://books.google.com/books?id=otcjAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=inauthor:malthus&num=30&as_brr=1#PPR3,M1 online edition] |
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| | ====notes==== | | ====notes==== |