How does malthusian theory relate to Caribbean?

Answer 1

That was the theory of Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834), the English Cleric, author of the Essay on the Principle of Population and originator of the perception of economics as "the dismal science". Malthus reasoned that human population tends to grow at a geometrical rate, while our ability to prooduce subsistence increases at a merely arithmetical rate -- and so we find ourselves in an ever-deepening spiral of suffering caused by overpopulation. In Malthus's view this process could only be slowed by the "preventive check" of decreased fertility, or the "positive check" of increased mortality.

Answer 2

Malthus' theory of population can be used to explain the dynamics of the relationship between population and resources in less developed territories. Since the Caribbean is considered to be less developed in comparison to other nation-states eg the US, France, England etc... we can say to the Malthusian theory of population can be applied to explain population-resource issues in the Caribbean, however it is limited in its scope and explanations, due to the diversity of the individual Caribbean territories themselves.
Marx's theory of population, tends to be a bit more plausible in explaining the relationship between population and available resources, with respect to the Caribbean. From a Historical perspective, given the fact of plantation slavery and colonialism, the Marxist theory of population provides a better explanation of population in the Caribbean when compared with Malthus's theory of population.