Which of the following is a flaw in Malthus' population theory?
A) His belief that growth in real GDP cannot exceed population growth real GDP despite technological advancements.
B) His belief that any increase in income would boost population growth failed to take into account the fact that higher incomes increase this opportunity cost and therefore reduces the number of children people want.
C) Rising incomes makes it more affordable for families to have more children and to educate their children so that they become productive members of society.
D) He failed to take into account that over time, as countries develop, the agricultural industry shrinks, reducing the need for people to have large families to help out in the family farm.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Malthus' belief that any increase in income would boost population growth failed to take into account the fact that higher incomes increase this opportunity cost and therefore reduces the number of children people want. This is a flaw in his theory because it overlooks the fact that as incomes rise, people tend to have fewer children, which can lead to a decrease in population growth rates.

Which of the Following Is a Flaw in Malthus' Population