Malthus warns of the dangers of overpopulation and discusses how, as humans continue to populate the Earth, the world’s resources will dwindle and eventually run out. The most controversial aspect of this work is Malthus’s view that starvation, poverty, and disease are necessary to keep human population in check.

Malthus’s Essay looks at the perennial tendency of humans to outstrip their resources: reproduction always exceeds food production. Today Malthus remains a byword for concern about man’s demographic and ecological prospects. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World’s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford’s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.