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 majority

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A) and (C) only

The correct answer is Option (3) → (A) and (C) only

Critics of the Malthusian theory of population (which claimed that population growth outpaces food supply and leads to poverty and starvation) argued that:

• (A) Unequal distribution of economic resources is a key cause of poverty and starvation, not merely population growth. The problem lies in how resources are distributed, not in their absolute scarcity.

• (C) Unjust social system is another cause, as it creates and sustains inequality, denying many access to basic needs despite the availability of resources.

"Malthus was 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.".