Malthusian theories are ideas proposed by Thomas Malthus in the 18th century that suggest population growth will outpace food production, leading to famine and social unrest.
Related terms
Neo-Malthusianism: Neo-Malthusianism is an updated version of Malthusian theories that also considers factors like resource scarcity and environmental degradation when explaining potential crises caused by overpopulation.
Carrying capacity: Carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals an area can sustainably support without depleting resources or causing environmental damage.
Demographic transition model: The demographic transition model describes how populations change over time as countries move from high birth rates and death rates to low birth rates and death rates due to economic development and social changes.