(a) Briefly outline the views of Thomas Malthus about population.
(b) How valid are such views about the Nigerian situation today?
Explanation
(a) Features of Malthusian theory are:
(i) That population was growing at a geometrical progression while food production was growing at a Arithmetical progression.
(ii) That there is a tendency for all living things to grow beyond the food available to them.
(iii) Unless population increase is matched with means of subsistence, negative and positive checks will come into force.
(iv) That the checks can be disease, epidemics, famine
(b) Malthus' views are valid with Nigerian situation today for the following reasons:
(i) The population of Nigeria is increasing as a result of negative attitude.
(ii) Human population in Nigeria is presently growing at a geometrical progression while food production is growing at arithmetical progression.
(iii) Poverty which is inherent in a given society according to Maithus, has proved extremely difficult to be wiped out in Nigeria.
(iv) Rapid population growth militates against rapid economic development and it grows faster than Per Capital Income.
(v) The standard of living has fallen as a result of increase in population.