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'''Robert Malthus''' (born Thomas Robert Malthus, 1766-1834) was a [[British]] economist and demographer best known for his gloomy prediction that population growth would always outstrip food supply. He warned in 1798 that unless population growth was controlled the world's population would grow faster than the food supply and mass starvation would result.  

'''Robert Malthus''' (born Thomas Robert Malthus, 1766-1834) was a [[British]] demographer and economist best known for his gloomy prediction that population growth would always outstrip food supply. He warned in 1798 that unless population growth was controlled the world's population would grow faster than the food supply and mass starvation would result.  

[[Image:Malthus.jpg|thumb|250px| Robert Malthus, after portrait by John Linnell, 1833]]

[[Image:Malthus.jpg|thumb|250px| Robert Malthus, after portrait by John Linnell, 1833]]

==Economist==

==Economist==

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> [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.  

==Theological background==

==Theological background==

Malthus’ ideas were especially influential on social policy and its objectives. Malthus' own recommendations for individual conduct-- that is, "moral restraint"--had no visible impact.<ref> Ireland was a rare case where "moral restraint" was practices, with mass emigration a complement to delayed marriage and to a delays in marriage. The Irish pattern was not in any way influenced by Malthus. Some societies--some of the small German principalities, for example--tried to impose "moral restraint" by erecting legal barriers to the marriage of the poor.</ref> The main response was one which Malthus strongly disapproved, namely birth control. It was [[Francis Place]] who, accepting the Malthusian theory, in 1822, first publicly advocated birth control as the practical means of controlling population growth and who was responsible for publishing a series of handbills recommending specific techniques. From that point on, the idea of birth control spread and its advocates have frequently been referred to as "neo-Malthusians". (Most were hostile to religion.) In the 21st century Catholic bishops still consider sinful all methods except the rhythm system, although in practice married Catholics largely disregard the bishops. Malthus was wrong in predicting the ability to limit the number of children would make people indolent and make society stagnate. On the contrary, the control of family size can be viewed as an aid to socioeconomic viability.  

Malthus’ ideas were especially influential on social policy and its objectives. Malthus' own recommendations for individual conduct-- that is, "moral restraint"--had no visible impact.<ref> Ireland was a rare case where "moral restraint" was practices, with mass emigration a complement to delayed marriage and to a delays in marriage. The Irish pattern was not in any way influenced by Malthus. Some societies--some of the small German principalities, for example--tried to impose "moral restraint" by erecting legal barriers to the marriage of the poor.</ref> The main response was one which Malthus strongly disapproved, namely birth control. It was [[Francis Place]] who, accepting the Malthusian theory, in 1822, first publicly advocated birth control as the practical means of controlling population growth and who was responsible for publishing a series of handbills recommending specific techniques. From that point on, the idea of birth control spread and its advocates have frequently been referred to as "neo-Malthusians". (Most were hostile to religion.) In the 21st century Catholic bishops still consider sinful all methods except the rhythm system, although in practice married Catholics largely disregard the bishops. Malthus was wrong in predicting the ability to limit the number of children would make people indolent and make society stagnate. On the contrary, the control of family size can be viewed as an aid to socioeconomic viability.  

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==