Principles of Macroeconomics / Unit 16 MAC 1509 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Why the Trap Did Not Close
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The idea
Two things defeated the prediction. Capital and technology raised agricultural output far faster than a constant amount per period. And rising incomes turned out to reduce birth rates rather than raise them.
In practice
Higher incomes raise the opportunity cost of the time spent raising children.
Where people slip
Malthus had the second relationship backwards, which is why the food line and the requirement line both moved.
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