An Analysis of the Malthusian Population Theory and its Prevalence in the Nigerian Society
Effiong, Ubong Edem
University of Uyo, Uyo
ABSTRACT:
This paper investigates the relevance of the Malthusian population theory and its prevalence in the Nigeria society. In its unique way, the paper tilt it weights towards looking at how the positive checks (war, disease, famine, starvation) and preventive checks (sterility, abstinence, birth control) gains weight in the Nigeria society. It was revealed that the predictions of the Malthusian population theory are quite prevalent in Nigeria especially in both the positive and preventive checks. The Nigeria society has
experienced outbreak of diseases such as Ebola, Bird flu and HIV/AIDS. Similarly, the study also reveals that there has been knowledge and application of birth control measures in the country such as the use of
contraceptives – both modern and traditional, as well as the use of condoms and pills. However, the feature that population grows in a geometric progression is not valid in Nigeria as the country’s population has been growing by 3.25%. The paper also reveals that there is a fairly positive correlation (0.46) between population and food importation in Nigeria. It was recommended that there should be improvement of the social/human welfare of the people and population related policies to promote growth in national output as population increases. Such policies include food subsidizing, employment generation, and public health provision. Keywords: Population; Theory; Positive Checks; Preventive Checks; Means of Subsistence; Population Growth. JEL Classifications: B12; B31; J11; J13
