All Flashcards
Compare Malthusian and Cornucopian views on population growth.
Malthus: leads to disaster; Cornucopian: leads to innovation.
Compare Malthusian and Neo-Malthusian perspectives.
Malthus: focused on food; Neo-Malthusians: broader resource concerns.
Compare the predicted outcomes of Malthusian and Cornucopian theories.
Malthusian: famine, disease; Cornucopian: economic growth, innovation.
Compare the roles of technology in Malthusian and Cornucopian theories.
Malthus: underestimated; Cornucopian: key to overcoming resource limits.
Compare the views of Malthus and Boserup on population growth.
Malthus: negative consequences; Boserup: positive driver of innovation.
Compare the focus of Malthusian theory and the Demographic Transition Model.
Malthus: population vs. food; DTM: population change over time.
Compare the views of Malthusians and Neo-Malthusians on population control.
Both advocate for it, but Neo-Malthusians have broader resource concerns.
Compare the relevance of Malthusian and Cornucopian theories today.
Malthusian: resource depletion; Cornucopian: technological advancements.
Compare the views of Malthusians and Cornucopians on sustainability.
Malthusians: emphasize limits; Cornucopians: emphasize innovation.
Compare the impact of Malthusian and Cornucopian theories on policy.
Malthusian: population control; Cornucopian: innovation and economic growth.
What is a demographer?
Someone who studies population characteristics.
Define geometric growth.
Growth that increases exponentially (2, 4, 8, 16...).
Define arithmetic growth.
Growth that increases linearly (1, 2, 3, 4...).
What is Neo-Malthusianism?
The advocacy for strict population control to protect resources.
Define Cornucopian Theory.
The belief that population growth leads to innovation and increased agricultural output.
What is the Demographic Transition Model (DTM)?
A model that describes population change over time as a country develops.
Define sustainability.
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What is resource depletion?
The using up of natural resources.
What is meant by 'population control'?
Measures taken to limit population growth.
Define family planning.
The practice of controlling the number of children in a family and the intervals between their births.
What is Malthusian Theory?
Population grows geometrically, food arithmetically, leading to crisis.
Explain the core idea of Cornucopian Theory.
Population growth spurs innovation and increases agricultural output.
What are the key assumptions of Malthus's theory?
Population grows faster than food, leading to famine, disease, and unrest.
How does the Demographic Transition Model (DTM) challenge Malthus?
DTM shows birth rates decline in later stages, contradicting Malthus's predictions.
What is the central argument of Neo-Malthusians?
Strict population control is needed to prevent resource depletion.
Explain the historical context of Malthus's theory.
Developed during the Industrial Revolution amid concerns about overpopulation.
What is Ester Boserup's contribution to geographic thought?
Argued that population growth leads to innovation and problem-solving in agriculture.
Explain the relevance of Malthusian theory to the Irish Potato Famine.
British used it to justify inaction, claiming overpopulation was the root cause.
What is the role of technology in the Cornucopian perspective?
Technology is seen as a key driver of increased food production and resource availability.
How does sustainability relate to Malthusian and Cornucopian theories?
Challenges both theories to consider long-term resource use and environmental impact.