The concept of optimum population is central to the study of the economics of population. This paper examines the effects of introducing a variable dependency ratio in dasguptas 1969 model. This document is highly rated by b com students and has been viewed 300 times. However, optimum population theory denies this argument. Let us make a comparison between optimum theory and malthusian theory of population. According to him, population increases in a geometric ratio like 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 basically, the population growth tends to. The difficulty with the existence minimum can be overcome to a. Apr 14, 2020 theory of optimum population macroeconomics b com notes edurev is made by best teachers of b com. Optimum population, the malthusian population theory and the. The malthusian theory of population is a theory of exponential population growth and arithmetic food supply growth. Pdf life span and the problem of optimal population size. Edwin cannan and carr saunders are the chief exponents of the optimum theory of population. Cannan defined this theory in terms of return to labour. Demographic transition theory and optimum population.
The population theories of malthus, boserup and the club of rome amended, final slide added slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Theory of optimum population macroeconomics b com notes. These models typically are small in the sense that they contain a small number of variables, and are constructed to represent very limited portions of the real world. Hence, we could say that the optimum population theory is the direct result of a sharp reaction to the malthusian theory of population. Maladjustment is a function of two variables, the optimum level of population o. Optimum population, the malthusian population theory and. The optimum population trust goes further with proposals that government encourage couples to stop at two children and the introduction of a one. Transfer of medical technology but not wealth from mdcs to ldcs has allowed for fastest population growth in poorest areas creating even larger gaps between resources and population. The morals i take away from the examples lead me in section 5 to outline a theory of optimum population that is based on an especially strong conception of personhood. The optimum population is a concept where the human population is able to balance maintaining a maximum population size with optimal standards of living for all people. Paul ehrlich the population bomb best seller and garrett hardin tragedy of the commons.
Jun 15, 2019 in this video, i have tried to explain optimum theory of population hope you guys like it. Theoretically, there is for any given state of the arts and any given supply of available natural resources, together with a given supply of capital instruments and a given social organization, a certain size of population which can operate these resources to the best advantage and produce the largest per. The dependency ratio and optimum population growth. The concept of optimum population has been defined differently by robbins. The word optimum means the best and the most desirable size of a countrys population. Malthus theory, marxs theory and theory of demographic transition. It is the education about population growth and its remedial measures. The population of a certain village increases by 5% annually. Many neomalthusians still feel that population growth will still outrun the food supply, and that the world will not be able to continue supporting a growing population two major voices. Criticizing the approach of the malthusian theory of population, modern economists edwin cannan and carr saunders of london school of economics have developed a new theory known as optimum theory of population. It is the statistics of the population that is subjected to change in accordance with aging, birth, death, migration etc. The population which has the highest per capita income is known as optimum population. The integrating theory can well be the revised and expanded concept of optimum population. The authors wish to acknowledge the helpful comments and suggestions made by their colleagues, especially drs.
Jan 02, 2019, optimum population theory study 24 udaipur loading. The theorizing about population population size and change have remained an important subject since time immemorial. Malthusian theory of population is a well known theory of population. Optimum theory is optimistic and malthus was pessimist. Demographic transition theory and optimum population by pranjal prateek avionics, sc12b104, roll31 2.
Optimum population size general guide to personal and societies. Optimum theory of population optimum theory of population implies the ideal size of the population which a country try should possess on the basis of its resources and technology. This paper aims at providing an eclectic analysis of the theory of optimum currency areas oca. Instead they have proposed the idea of optimum theory of population for many reasons. Thomas robert malthus enunciated his views about population in his famous book, essay on. Notes on population theory grade 12 economics factors. The level of optimum population differs from country to country and from time to time. Therefore, optimum population lies between two extremes, i. For instance, if the actual population of a country is 50 crores and its optimum population is 35 crores, then that country is overpopulated to the extent of.
The optimum theory seeks to establish a relation between the number of people of a country and its productive resources as it exists at a particular point of time. Population theory and the concept of optimum population. The theory of optimum population for a closed economy. In other words, optimum population stands in between the two other extremes of over population.
Population is necessarily limited by the means of subsistence. Malthusian theory of population claims that if population of a country keeps on increasing, it is going to be detrimental to the society. Important as the distribution of income is, it simply is not true that reform of distribution is the main thing. According to him, population increases in a geometric ratio like 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 basically, the population growth tends to be higher when people have enough food for them. Jan 24, 2018 apr 14, 2020 theory of optimum population macroeconomics b com notes edurev is made by best teachers of b com. For example, the social security system depends on future workers to pay. The mid point between over population and under population as is shown in the following diagram. Allele frequencies, genotype frequencies, and hardyweinberg equilibrium 2. In the short to medium term, flat population numbers births deaths would create problems because economic systems worldwide depend on growth. Optimum population theory apple b ugc net jrf academy.
We may try to find out in the first instance how optimum theory is an improvement on the malthusian theory. A modification to include a preference for children in the. The optimum population is a concept where the human population is able to balance maintaining a maximum population size with optimal standards of living for. Although the basic tenets of the theory were anticipated during the late1940s and the 1950s, the. The malthusian threat of overpoulation has inspired many writers ever since thomas robert malthus essay on the principle of population appeared in 1798 and 1830. Or, theory can refer to a system of very general ideas for example, the theory of relativity, or. The optimum theory of population is an important theory of population stated by modern economists like edwin cannan, dalton and others. The optimum population and an affluent society introduction. The following are the main differences between the malthusian theory and the optimum theory. Aug 29, 2012 advantages and disadvantages of larger population to a country.
Rather, it was my beliefs that had to change simon 1997, xxviii. Criticizing the approach of the malthusian theory of population, modern economists edwin cannan and carr saunders of london school of economics have. Although the tremendous size and rate of growth of the human population now influences virtually every aspect of society, rarely does the public debate, or even consider, the question of what would be an optimum number of human beings to live on earth at any given time. May 06, 2011 thus optimum population is the size of population at which per capita income is the highest, at any given time. Theory and evidence quamrul ashrafy oded galorz march 26, 2008 abstract this paper empirically tests the existence of malthusian population dynamics in the preindustrial revolution era. Anything above the desirable size of population is harmful to the society. Population theory and the concept of optimum population 211 is this enough. There are both static and dynamic elements to the population debate. In this diagram population is measured along ox and output along oy. Julian simon and the limits to growth neomalthusianism.
Indeed, the best way to approach simons work on population, environment and technology is to see it. In ancient greece, the earliest thinkers favoured the expansion of population, but plato was a restrictionist who advocated. Important as the distribution of income is, it simply. The concept of optimum population arose from the fundamental relationship between population and resources. Population invariably increases where means of subsistence increased, unless prevented by some very powerful and obvious checks. David is visiting associate professor of economics at u. The optimum theory of population appeared as a reaction to the malthusian theory.
The theory of optimum population for a closed economy, journal of political economy, university of chicago press, vol. Optimum population definition and meaning collins english. Ol size of population is an optimum size population. When the population of country is neither too large nor too small, it is called optimum population. He was the first who gave the concept of optimum population level. In this article we will discuss about the optimum theory of population. The modern theory of optimum population brings out the relationship between changes in population and the consequent changes in per capita income. The malthusian threat of overpoulation has inspired many writers ever since thomas robert malthus essay on the principle of populationappeared in 1798. Edwin cannan 18611935, who was a british economist, has been credited for having introduced the term and framing the theory. Optimum theory of population acceptance and criticism. Also learn about characteristics and features of the theory. Malthusian, demographic transition the malthusian theory of population is the most wellknown theory on population in economics. Malthus says that population growth is the strong instinct among the people, so population increases at the faster rate.
Jan 14, 2020 the malthusian theory of population is a theory of exponential population growth and arithmetic food supply growth. It is balanced between over population and under population. The theory, which appears to perform well when put to. Pdf sustainable welfare and optimum population size. The theory suggests that, during the agricultural stage of development, resource surpluses beyond the maintenance of. Optimum population has been defined as that size of population enabling per capita output of the maximum orders accompanied by the highest possible standards of living under a given set of economic and technological conditions. Thomas robert malthus, an english cleric, and scholar, published this theory in his 1798 writings, an essay on the principle of population.
Location theory addresses the questions of what economic activities are located where and why. Access to the online full text or pdf requires a subscription. Because the malthusian framework is basically economic, the population question has always attracted many economists. Julian simon and the limits to growth neomalthusianism 74 not disposed to close my eyes to the evidence because it did not square with my original beliefs. The economists like carr saunders considered optimum population as that which produces maximum welfare. Malthus pointed out that an accelerated increase in poplation would outweigh the increase in food production. Ways increased population density afects ecosystem. The optimum population is the best and the most desirable size of population, which maximizes the per capita income with given natural resources, technology and capital. Demography the general science of studying human population.
Population and society 5 module 1 population studies 1. Modern economists such as sidgwick, cannon, dalton and robbins have propagated this theory. In the introductory statement of this paper we asserted that the urgent need in develop ing population theory is the need for integration. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. The optimum theory of population 22 3 relationship between per capita income and the desire to raise children, this shifts from time to time and from place to place, and it cannot be imagined to be at some constant level under the ceteris paribus clause. The concept of an optimum, or ideal, size of population concerns both theory and policy. It is shown that the inclusion of those realistic demographic features slows down the optimal rate of population growth and increases the rate of consumption. It can be seen in other writing and even in pop culture. Jul 16, 2012 the optimum population trust goes further with proposals that government encourage couples to stop at two children and the introduction of a onein oneout policy on immigration. Location theory, in economics and geography, theory concerned with the geographic location of economic activity. Karl winkelblech 18101865german professor is firstly introduced the concept of population theory. It was associated with the name of thomas robert malthus. Other economists associated with the theory are marshall, robbins, dalton, gini, sidgwick, carrsaunders.
It is a theoretically perfect situation difficult to estimate or define. Optimum population is neither too small or too large. The main features of the theory are briefly summarised here. In this video, i have tried to explain optimum theory of population hope you guys like it. We consider a case in which the probability of dying as well as the rate of participation in the labor force change with age. Overpopulation, under population, optimum population. Malthusian theory of population intelligent economist.
Location theory economics and geography britannica. According to malthus, population increases at a rapid race when compared to food supply. Thus optimum population is the size of population at which per capita income is the highest, at any given time. Despite these criticisms, the malthusian theory of population growth has forever made an impact on the world. Pdf we reconsider the optimal population size problem in a continuous time economy populated by. In the context of social systems theory it i s a rg ue d t ha t th er e i s a tr ad eoff. Many of the ancient philosophers like confucius china, kautilya india, ibn khaldin arab, plato greece and modem thinkers like adam smith, david richard and. The theory of optimum population pher skirting the coast of ethics, sentiment, and value judgments, but it is difficult to see how they can throw much light on the problem of the best size of population. The modern economists have rejected the malthusian theory of population on several grounds.
1171 158 780 707 155 141 1454 738 489 1107 544 77 1019 811 827 1092 750 324 1138 1285 571 1251 178 1368 730 784 405 52 610 1148 118 1093 878 539 617 426 279 332 1466 424 673