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Population Growth: A Comparison of Evolutionary Views

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  • Jackson, William A.

Abstract

Economists are divided about population growth: the pessimism of neo-Malthusians contrasts strongly with the optimism of cornucopians. Despite their differences, both schools of thought reject economic orthodoxy and prefer evolutionary forms of theory. Their interpretations of evolution are different: the neo-Malthusians appeal to the entropy law, whereas the cornucopians emphasise human creativity expressed through markets. This paper argues that both schools are right to adopt an evolutionary outlook, but that they are too restrictive in their conception of evolution. A more complete evolutionary view, which allows properly for social institutions, could give a more balanced account of population growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Jackson, William A., 1995. "Population Growth: A Comparison of Evolutionary Views," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 22(6), pages 3-16.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:263680
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    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/263680/1/Population%20Growth%20-%20A%20Comparison%20of%20Evolutionary%20Views.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Philip Mirowski, 1988. "Energy and Energetics in Economic Theory: A Review Essay," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(3), pages 811-830, September.
    2. Hodgson, Geoffrey M, 1993. "Theories of Economic Evolution: A Preliminary Taxonomy," The Manchester School of Economic & Social Studies, University of Manchester, vol. 61(2), pages 125-143, June.
    3. Boulding, Kenneth E., 1981. "Agricultural Economics In An Evolutionary Perspective," 1981 Annual Meeting, July 26-29, Clemson, South Carolina 279250, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    4. Kenneth E. Boulding, 1981. "Agricultural Economics in an Evolutionary Perspective," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 63(5), pages 788-795.
    5. Foster, John, 1993. "Economics and the Self-Organisation Approach: Alfred Marshall Revisited," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 103(419), pages 975-991, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ghada Gomaa A. Mohamed & Morrison Handley Schachler, 2017. "Population Growth and Transitional Dynamics of Egypt Theoretical Analysis & Time Series Analysis from 1981 To 2007," International Journal of Asian Social Science, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 7(2), pages 110-118, February.
    2. Boschetti, Fabio & Richert, Claire & Walker, Iain & Price, Jennifer & Dutra, Leo, 2012. "Assessing attitudes and cognitive styles of stakeholders in environmental projects involving computer modelling," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 98-111.
    3. George E. Halkos & Panagiotis-Stavros C. Aslanidis, 2024. "How Waste Crisis Altered the Common Understanding: From Fordism to Circular Economy and Sustainable Development," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 1513-1537, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    population growth; neo-Malthusians; cornucopians; economic evolution; markets; institutions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;
    • B53 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Austrian
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics

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