Scenario: Malthusian
From Future
Malthus is widely accredited with his Malthusian Scenario. Its basic tenets are such:
- Food production is increasing arithmetically (add a specific amount each year)
- Human population is increasing geometrically (add more and more each year)
- Given time, geometrical increase will far outstrip arithmetic increase
- This will result in lack of food for an ever-growing population
- This cannot be averted except by leaving a significant amount of people to death
The Malthusian scenario is extremely pessimistic, and there are pointers that it is simply not true:
- Due to agricultural advancements, food production is increasing geometrically
- Due to Family Planning|family planning initiatives, the rate of increase of the human population is steadily decreasing
- These two rates therefore cancel out, at least in the last few decades
