Thomas Malthus's original theory proposed that population grows exponentially while food production increases linearly or more slowly. He argued that this imbalance would eventually result in famine, disease, or war to control population growth.
Related terms
Population growth rate: The rate at which a population increases or decreases over time.
Agricultural revolution: A period when humans shifted from hunter-gatherer societies to settled farming communities.
Natural checks on population: Factors like disease outbreaks or natural disasters that reduce population size without human intervention.