What is the difference between Thomas Malthus' and Ester Boserup's view on population growth?

Thomas Malthus is the author of the Malthusian theory; the view that suggests that the global population is increasing exponentially, while global resource production and extraction are only increasing arithmetically. Hence he sugests that there is a point where the Earth's resources will not be able to support the ever growing population.

Boserup's view contrasts it. She suggests that the population itself is a resource. Humans have the means and knowledge to overcome the lack of resources by inventing new ways of resource extraction and production. In support of this view are new ways of food production; fertilizers, food technology, modified crops, new technologies to find oil reserves.This increases the Earth's carrying capacity (even though points of crisis may be encountered on the way).

Answered by Katja H. Geography tutor

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