Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834)
British economist, minister, teacher
An Essay on the Principle of Population, as it affects the Future Improvement of Society, with Remarks on the Speculations of Mr Godwin, M. Condorcet and Other Writers (1798)
Observations on the Effects of the Corn Laws, and of a rise or fall in the price of corn on the agriculture and general wealth of the country (1814) (see Corn Laws)
Definitions in Political economy: Preceded by an inquiry into the rules which ought to guide political economists in the definition and use of their terms; with remarks on the derivation from these rules in their writings (1827)
A Summary View of the Principle of Population (1830)
Principles of Political Economy: Considered with a View to their Practical Application (1820)
The first edition of Principles of Political Economy: Considered with a View to their Practical Application appeared in 1820, seven years later Malthus followed it with Definitions in Political Economy. While he is best known for his theory of population and the supply of sustenance, his works on the economic system and its functioning is closely related.
During this time in England and, for that matter, the world, the entire system of economic exchange and balance had been revolutionized by the industrial revolution, colonialism, the steam engine, and urbanization. The economy was no longer localized; it was well on its way to globalization. The Corn Laws, first passed in England in 1804 and subsequently revised numerous times, created a micro- macro- economic case study about which Malthus and others could argue and observe. In his Observations on the Effects of the Corn Laws (see below for text) Malthus argues with Smith's position concerning the effects of the laws, labor costs, and trade.
Malthus was trained as a minister, but spent his career as Professor of Modern History and Political Economy at the East India College in Haileybury. According to Malthus, population is kept in balance either by devastation or self-interest. If the poor are allowed to reach a higher standard of living, they will restrain population growth to become upwardly mobile and to have enough to provide a similar opportunity for their children. This was radical thought in the early 1800's. Many preferred to allow the "natural" course of starvation and illness to weed out the population, agreeing with Malthus' pessimistic view that the poor would be unable to exercise self-restraint. They also liked Malthus' view that helping the poor only took resources from those who would make better use of them. So, on the one hand, Malthus was in favor of creating an economy to allow the poor to better themselves and at the same time against the "helping hand".
Theoretical criticisms came from people like Everett and Godwin, among others. Everett questioned the geometric progression as a model for population growth. Full text from both authors is available below.
The theoretical arguments concerning the economy by Malthus, Ricardo, Smith, and others both described the rise of the mercantile economy and helped to mold and shape it. The various roles of government, banking, money, property and capital were defined and created the system we live with today.
The enlargements of the document are sufficient for easy reading -- they will be a slow download on a modem. The photographs of Principles of Political Economy may be used freely on non-commercial sites (no advertisements) and for educational purposes. Please link to this site for the copyright. Quotations:
Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence increases only in an arithmetical ratio. A slight acquaintance with numbers will show the immensity of the first power in comparison of the second. (An Essay on the Principle of Population, 1798)
The number of labourers also being above the proportion of work in the market, the price of labor must tend towards a decrease; while the price of provisions would at the same time tend to rise. (An Essay on the Principle of Population, 1798)
To state these facts is not to favour taxes; but to give one of the strongest reasons against them; namely, that they are not only a great evil on their first imposition, but that the attempt to get rid of them afterwards, is often attended with fresh suffering. (Principles of Political Economy, Section X, On the Immediate Causes of the Progress of Wealth, 1820)
Further Resources:
Works by Thomas Robert, Malthus (1766-1834)
An Essay on the Principle of Population (1798) from Project GutenbergAn Essay on the Principle of Population as It Affects the Future Improvement of Society, with Remarks on the Speculations of Mr. Godwin, M. Condorcet, and Other Writers. London: J. Johnson, 1798. First edition. from The Library of Economics and Liberty
An Essay on the Principle of Population: A View of its Past and Present Effects on Human Happiness; with an Inquiry into Our Prospects Respecting the Future Removal or Mitigation of the Evils which It Occasions
Published: London: John Murray, 1826. Sixth edition. First published: 1798. from The Library of Economics and Liberty
Observations on the Effects of the Corn Laws, and of a Rise or Fall in the Price of Corn on the Agriculture and General Wealth of the Country (1814) from Project Gutenberg
The Grounds of an Opinion on the Policy of Restricting the Importation of Foreign Corn: intended as an appendix to "Observations on the corn laws" from Project Gutenberg
19th Century works concerning Malthus:Godwin on Malthus. The North American review. Volume 15, Issue 37. Cedar Falls, Iowa: University of Northern Iowa. October 1822, pp. 289-319. from Cornell University Library.
The Method of Political Economy, by D. McG. Means. New Englander and Yale review. Volume 42, Issue 177. New Haven: W. L. Kingsley, pp. 801-820. from Cornell University Library.
Letters to Malthus on Political Economy and Stagnation of Commerce HTML by Andy Blunden at McMaster University
The Malthusian Theory - Discussed in a Correspondence between Alex H. Everett and Professor George Tucker, of the University of Virginia. The United States Democratic review. Volume 17, Issue 88. October 1845. New York: J.& H.G. Langley, pp. 297-310
The Malthusian Theory - Discussed in a Correspondence between Alex H. Everett and Professor George Tucker, of the University of Virginia. The United States Democratic review. Volume 17, Issue 89. November 1845. New York: J.& H.G. Langley, pp. 379-392
Everett, A. H. "Everett's New Ideas on Population", The North American review. Volume 17, Issue 41 Cedar Falls, Iowa: University of Northern Iowa, October 1823, pp. 288-310. From Cornell University Library Collection. A critique of Malthus' ideas on population by a contemporary. It's worth reading just for the language.From 1830 to 1835 Everett edited The North American review. Everett became a diplomat to China and continued his interest in population and Malthus' theory. He died in Canton in 1847.
"The Condition of China, with Reference to the Malthusian Theory, as Discussed in Correspondence between Alex H. Everett and Prof. Geo Tucker, Late of the University of Virginia", The United States Democratic review. Volume 21, Issue 113 New York: J.& H.G. Langley, pp. 397-411.
"The Condition of China; with Reference to the Malthusian Theory, in Reply to the Late Hon. A. H. Everett, U. S. Minister to China, by Prof. George Tucker, Late of the University of Virginia", The United States Democratic review. Volume 22, Issue 115 New York: J.& H.G. Langley, pp. 11-18.Review of "Observations on the effects of the Corn Laws... by Rev. T. R. Malthus" The North American review. Volume 1, Issue 2. Cedar Falls, Iowa: University of Northern Iowa, July 1815, pp. 214-234. from Cornell University Library.
Modern works concerning Malthus:
CLASSICAL SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS (1776-1871): AN OUTLINE. by R. Larry Reynolds, Boise State University. An overview of the major economic theories in .pdf format, right-click to download.
Wealth and Poverty: Malthus And Ricardo. by Andrew Roberts, Middlesex University
1798: Darwin and Malthus by Keith Stewart Thomson, in the American Scientist. Paper showing the influence of Malthus' theory on Darwin.
The Origin of the Term "Dismal Science" to Describe Economics by Robert Dixon at The University of Melbourne. Discusses Carlye and Malthus.
(c) Marilyn Shea, 2006