Over-Population: Theory and Statistics/
Florence, P. Sargant
Over-Population: Theory and Statistics/ By P. Sargant Florence. - 66 pages: tables; 16 cm
Includes bibliographical references.
Modern theories of population still rest upon Malthus' propositions, and Malthus' methods of investigation still appear the most likely to bear fruit. Malthus' opening propositions point to the tendency of population to respond. to and outrun any increase in the means of subsistence, and there is no sufficient reason to suppose that this tendency is not manifest in existing unemployment.
Malthus' view of the mechanism by which this tendency occurs is best displayed by a genealogical tree (Table A). Two routes or modes of descent are indicated by which the slower growth of means of subsistence will check the potentially faster growth of population. There is the descent through the positive check, death and misery, down branches (7) and (2). And there is the descent through the preventive check-a diminution of theof birth-rate-down branches (9), (3) and argument involve (1). These lines of argument as a corollary the inverse relation positive and preventive checks (line 8), and the whole system of argument is greatly strengthened by the statistical verification of this" cross-tie." Malthus held that one or the other mode of descent must occur, and his aim was to urge people to avoid the route that led through misery and death by using "moral restraint," in his day the lead-ing method of preventing births.
Statisticians have recently attacked the supposed correlation of birth-rates with the use of preventive checks (branch 3 in the Table) and substituted variations in fertility as the important factor (branch 6); but neither the attack on line 3, nor the defence of line 6 has been adequate, and Malthus' position at these points appears to stand.
A weaker portion of Malthus' (and the modern economist's) front is the assumption of a law of diminishing returns in means of subsistence as population grows. Here statisticiansmight well discover flaws and weak-nesses, but unfortunately few sustained attacks have been made. Statisticians have worked in isolation without reference to the economists' construc-tions. They have butted ineffectually against works solid and well founded, but have left the gaps untested.
Text in English
Public finance and tax legislation
304.66 / FL . O
Over-Population: Theory and Statistics/ By P. Sargant Florence. - 66 pages: tables; 16 cm
Includes bibliographical references.
Modern theories of population still rest upon Malthus' propositions, and Malthus' methods of investigation still appear the most likely to bear fruit. Malthus' opening propositions point to the tendency of population to respond. to and outrun any increase in the means of subsistence, and there is no sufficient reason to suppose that this tendency is not manifest in existing unemployment.
Malthus' view of the mechanism by which this tendency occurs is best displayed by a genealogical tree (Table A). Two routes or modes of descent are indicated by which the slower growth of means of subsistence will check the potentially faster growth of population. There is the descent through the positive check, death and misery, down branches (7) and (2). And there is the descent through the preventive check-a diminution of theof birth-rate-down branches (9), (3) and argument involve (1). These lines of argument as a corollary the inverse relation positive and preventive checks (line 8), and the whole system of argument is greatly strengthened by the statistical verification of this" cross-tie." Malthus held that one or the other mode of descent must occur, and his aim was to urge people to avoid the route that led through misery and death by using "moral restraint," in his day the lead-ing method of preventing births.
Statisticians have recently attacked the supposed correlation of birth-rates with the use of preventive checks (branch 3 in the Table) and substituted variations in fertility as the important factor (branch 6); but neither the attack on line 3, nor the defence of line 6 has been adequate, and Malthus' position at these points appears to stand.
A weaker portion of Malthus' (and the modern economist's) front is the assumption of a law of diminishing returns in means of subsistence as population grows. Here statisticiansmight well discover flaws and weak-nesses, but unfortunately few sustained attacks have been made. Statisticians have worked in isolation without reference to the economists' construc-tions. They have butted ineffectually against works solid and well founded, but have left the gaps untested.
Text in English
Public finance and tax legislation
304.66 / FL . O