Malthus's pessimistic view of the economy

Abstract

Thomas Robert Malthus jedan je od prvih povijesno prepoznatljivih ekonomista i poznat je po knjizi Esej o stanovništvu i njegovom utjecaju na buduće poboljšanje društva (An Essay on Principle of Population as it Effects the Future Improvement of Society). U svom Eseju Malthus je iznio možda najdepresivniju moguću prognozu u kojoj je predviđao da će se stanovništvo razmnožavati brže nego što raste proizvodnja hrane. Ubrzo nakon što je Malthus iznio svoju teoriju došlo je do prve poljoprivredne revolucije gdje su se sustavno počeli primjenjivati znanost i tehnologija na poljoprivredu. Njegova teorija u konačnici se pokazala pogrešnom, ali utjecaj koji je Malthus ostavio na razvoj ekonomske znanosti je neosporiv. Malthusovo ime ostaje sinonim za aktivnu zaokupljenost demografskim i ekološkim pitanjima, a njegovo klasično djelo ostalo je do danas čitano u tekstovima iz društvenog razvoja, teologija, evolucije i očuvanja okoliša. Upozoravao je da ljudska sposobnost razmnožavanja nadmašuje raspoložive resurse, te da je potrebno poduzeti konkretne mjere kontrole rasta stanovništva kako bi se izbjegla bijeda i propadanje. Fokus njegova zanimanja bili su ekonomija i matematika, te su ga ta dva polja dovela do zaključka da sredstva za život i stanovništvo nerazmjerno rastu. Malthusova teorija se u konačnici pokazala pogrešnom, međutim kao razlog zbog kojeg je ostala neuspješna ostaje činjenica da nije uzeo u obzir tehnološki razvoj i rast produktivnosti. Bez obzira na sve, njegov doprinos ekonomskoj znanosti ostaje neizbrisiv.Thomas Robert Malthus was one of the first historically famous economists, and he was known for his book An Essay On Principle Of Population As It Effects The Future Improvement Of Society. In his work he presented probably the most depressive prognosis in which he predicted that the population will grow faster than the growth of food production. Soon as he presented his theory the first agricultural revolution started. In that agricultural revolution science and technology started applying on the agriculture. His theory turned out to be wrong, but the impact that Malthus left on the economic science is indisputable. His name remains a synonym for active preoccupation with demographic and environmental issues, and his classic work remained to this day citation in texts from social development, theology, evolution and environmental protection. He warned that the human capacity of reproduction exceeds available resources, and that it is necessary to take concrete measures to control population growth in order to avoid the misery and decay. Focuses of his interest were economics and mathematics, and those two fields led to the conclusion that the livelihood and population grow disproportionately. Malthusian theory ultimately proved wrong, however, as the reason why it remained unsuccessful remains that he did not take into account technological developments and productivity growth. No matter what, his contribution to economic science remains indelible