Question

“In the Malthusian world vices are virtues and virtues vices.” Explain

the meaning of this quote. Good answers will be illustrated by specific

historical examples.

Answer 1

                        A Malthusian world refers to such a world in which the population growth is exponential whereas the growth of the food supply and other resources are linear. According to this theory by Malthus, the increasing population would cause a situation where it would be difficult to satisfy the inherent population and thus would lead to a decline in the consumption pattern for some of the consumers in the economy whereas some other consumers who are able to compete in the market due to availability of some resources would be able to have the benefit of owing other resources also. Thus, in such a world, in the longer run, there would be disparity among the population and the needs would not get satisfied for all and competition becomes the factor that would start defining the quantity that each would acquire which may lead to different approaches from the community.

                        The concept of ‘vice’ and ‘virtue’ is something important in this kind of an economy. A ‘vice’ would represent an immoral behavioural approach in the economic sustenance and ‘virtue’ would refer to a moral approach in the same. The concept of being virtuous cannot hold in a Malthusian economy as one who can compete well and sometimes hold some resources and wealth for oneself would determine the ability to owe other resources. In such cases, the ‘virtues’ would become ‘vice’ and the ‘vice’ would become ‘virtues’ for the sustainability in the society. The historical example can be seen in almost all the developed nations and some of he developing nations. Considering the example of India, the top 1% of the population in terms of wealth owns about half of the total wealth in the economy whereas with the increase in the population, the number of people who are malnourished and are not able to get an earning are on the rise. The effects of competition has resulted in many not getting jobs for a living as they fall behind the fellow competitors in many unforeseen ways in most of the cases. People would start bribing for the needs and thus in such a situation, those who have better command over the wealth would have a better command over the other basic resources in the economy.

                        The above example is common in almost al of the nations which have an increasing population growth with respect to the land under consideration and thus when the nation would have an increase beyond their carrying capacity and sustainability factor, it would lead to people resorting to ‘vice’ ways which would be deemed as ‘virtuous’ in having a control over the resources in the society.