An Essay on the Principle of Population

"An Essay on the Principle of Population" is a work by Thomas Malthus, published in 1798. It argues that population growth tends to outpace food production, leading to inevitable shortages and crises. Malthus posits that while populations can increase geometrically (exponentially), resources like food increase arithmetically (linearly). This imbalance, he suggests, results in natural checks on population, such as famine, disease, and war. Malthus's ideas sparked important debates about resource management and social policies, influencing economic thought and discussions on sustainability that continue to be relevant today.