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Population growth: a comparison of evolutionary views
International Journal of Social Economics
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Economists debate population growth, with neo-Malthusians and cornucopians offering contrasting evolutionary theories. A broader evolutionary perspective, incorporating social institutions, could provide a more balanced understanding of population dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Economics
- Sociology
- Population Studies
Background:
- Economists hold divergent views on population growth, categorized as neo-Malthusian pessimism and cornucopian optimism.
- Both schools diverge from economic orthodoxy, favoring evolutionary theoretical frameworks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the evolutionary theories of neo-Malthusians and cornucopians regarding population growth.
- To propose a more comprehensive evolutionary framework for understanding population dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of contrasting economic theories on population growth.
- Examination of the conceptual limitations in current evolutionary approaches.
- Development of an expanded evolutionary model incorporating social institutions.
Main Results:
- Neo-Malthusian theory aligns with entropy, while cornucopian theory emphasizes market-driven human creativity.
- Both existing evolutionary perspectives are deemed too narrow in their scope.
- An inclusive evolutionary model offers a more balanced perspective on population growth.
Conclusions:
- The study advocates for an expanded evolutionary outlook on population growth.
- Integrating social institutions into evolutionary models is crucial for a comprehensive understanding.
- A broader evolutionary framework can reconcile existing economic debates on population dynamics.