The critics of Malthusian theory argued that poverty and starvation were caused by:
A. Unequal distribution of economic resources
B. Population growth
C. Unjust social system
D. Privileged minority
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → A & C Only
A. Unequal distribution of economic resources Correct. Liberal and Marxist scholars argued that problems like poverty and starvation were caused by the unequal distribution of economic resources rather than by population growth.
B. Population growth Incorrect. This was Malthus’s own claim: population grows faster than the means of subsistence, so humanity is condemned to poverty. His critics rejected precisely this, which is why they were his critics.
C. Unjust social system Correct. The critics held that an unjust social system allowed a wealthy few to live in luxury while the vast majority of the people were forced to live in poverty.
D. Privileged minority Incorrect. The wealthy and privileged minority is the group that gains from the unjust system and lives in luxury. The critics named the system and the unequal distribution of resources as the cause, not the minority as such.
NCERT (2025-26): “2.1 Some Theories and Concepts in Demography … Malthus was also criticised by liberal and Marxist scholars for asserting that poverty was caused by population growth. The critics argued that problems like poverty and starvation were caused by the unequal distribution of economic resources rather than by population growth. An unjust social system allowed a wealthy and privileged minority to live in luxury while the vast majority of the people were forced to live in poverty.” |