Population Theories
Different people have different ideas about WHY and HOW population growth occurs; and the effect of
that growth.
DJ Bogue
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Theory of Demographic Regulation – over an extended period of time, a society naturally limits
its population.
Believes that the industrial revolution increased the earth’s carrying capacity – The world’s
population has been adjusting to this increase.
Thomas Malthus
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Malthusian Theory – Population will grow in geometric sequence (1,2,3,4,5,6,) while food could
only increase geometrically (2,4,8,16…)
Pessimistic View – misery will occur (famine, disease……)
William Catton
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The Earth has a Carrying Capacity which we have been exceeding for many years by using “extra
stock” of resources. We are using non-renewable resources now that should be saved for future
generations.
This produces a phantom carrying capacity which will lead to an ecological/economic collapse.
Karl Marx
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High levels of population growth does not cause poverty – POVERTY causes high levels of
population growth.
Believes that capitalism has created an unfair economic system.
People profited at the expense of the laborers. By keeping the working class poor and
population growth rate remains high.
Thomas Homer-Dixon
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Population growth is depleting/degrading our resources. The supplies of resources are often
controlled by powerful people who exploit them. This results in outburst of “EcoViolence”.
The nature of problems faced by our society are becoming more complex and that our ability to
implement solutions is not keeping pace.