Which of the following assumptions is most fundamental to Malthus's prediction that poverty would persist across generations?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option 3: Population tends to grow more rapidly than the means of subsistence.
The entire Malthusian argument rests on the claim that population increases at a faster rate than food and other subsistence resources. Because population growth continuously places pressure on available resources, poverty and deprivation become recurring features of society. Without this assumption, his prediction of inevitable poverty collapses.