(a) Give two major views of Rev. Thomas Malthus in population theory. (b) How relevant are his views to the economic realities of West African countries?
Explanation
(a) (i) Rev Thomas Malthus postulated that population was growing at geometric progression. (ii)He also postulated that food production then was growing in arithmetic progression. (iii)The growth in population over food production will continue unless prevented by some checks such as moral restraints, vice and misery.
(b)(i) Economists generally believed that Rev. Thomas Malthus to some extent was right because his postulations are quite apt and related to less industrialized countries such as West African countries. (ii)A large proportion of the population live below subsistence level and wide spread hunger and poverty are visible. (iii) Famine, plague, epidemics and drought particularly in the arid regions afflict these countries but their effects are ameliorated by national and international interventions. (iv) High infant mortality rate are prevalent as predicted by Rev. Thomas Malthus except that the rates are declining. (v) However with improvements in technology, transportation and communication, in health facilities and population control methods, the Malthusian views are becoming relatively irrelevant.
