The Economics of Thomas Robert Malthus (Studies in Comparative Political Economy and Public Policy)

Samuel Hollander provides the first in-depth study of Malthus's achievement as an economist. Malthus's message has been largely misrepresented by decades of careless and biased interpretation. In this volume, Samuel Hollander re-examines these interpretations and presents a full and coherent picture of Malthus's economics. He evaluates John Maynard Keynes's famous dichotomy between the Ricardian and Malthusian methods, proving that the two were far closer to each other than is generally supposed. The relation of Malthus's ideas to those of his predecessors is thoroughly examined, for example, his roots in the Wealth of Nations are demonstrated and the physiocratic and Sraffian dimensions of his work are brought to light. Hollander extends his analysis to biographical factors; he discounts the textbook perspective on Malthus as a social-welfare pessimist and dispels the common notion of Malthus as spokesman of the land-owning classes. The standard charges against Malthus of inconsistency and intellectual dishonesty are also challenged. Samuel Hollander has produced the definitive study of Thomas Robert Malthus. A major contribution to the history of economic theory, the study has much broader appeal as a portrait of a central figure in early nineteenth-century debates over social policy -particularly those having to do with the role of government in relation to social welfare, economic growth, and trade protection. "Malthus's message has been largely misrepresented by decades of careless and biased interpretation. In this volume, Samuel Hollander re-examines these interpretations and presents a full and coherent picture of Malthus's economics. He evaluates John Maynard Keynes's famous dichotomy between the Ricardian and Malthusian methods, proving that the two were far closer to each other than is generally supposed. The relation of Malthus's ideas to those of his predecessors is thoroughly examined; for example, his roots in the Wealth of Nations are demonstrated and the physiocratic and Sraffian dimensions of his work are brought to light. Hollander extends his analysis to biographical factors; he discounts the textbook perspective on Malthus as a social-welfare pessimist and dispels the common notion of Malthus as spokesman of the land-owning classes. The standard charges against Malthus of inconsistently and intellectual dishonesty are also challenged." "Samuel Hollander has produced the definitive study of Thomas Robert Malthus. A major contribution to the history of economic theory, the study has much broader appeal as a portrait of a central figure in early nineteenth-century debates over social policy - particularly those having to do with the role of government in relation to social welfare, economic growth, and trade protection."--Résumé de l'éditeur Contents 7 Preface 13 Acknowledgments 17 Introduction 19 I. Early explorations in growth and development theory 31 1. The Essay on Population, 1798-1807 31 2. The Malthus-Ricardo correspondence, 1813-1814 88 3. The Inquiry into Rent (1815) 113 4. The Malthus-Ricardo correspondence, 1815-1819 132 5. The Essay on Population revised (1817) 191 II. Value, distribution, and growth 235 6. Price theory 235 7. Value measurement 290 8. Surplus vs scarcity: A physiocratic dimension 371 9. Wages and employment 430 10. Profit-rate analysis 453 III. Employment, aggregate demand, and money 523 11. Sustainable growth: Accumulation and the aggregate-demand problem 523 12. Macro-economic stabilization and applications 604 13. Money and banking 648 14. Two issues in international monetary economics 695 IV. Some empirical estimates 757 15. Agricultural productivity: Past and prospective 757 16. Demographic trends: The population problem 802 V. Trade policy and social welfare 825 17. Agricultural protection 825 18. Social reform and the role of government 890 19. Utilitarianism in a theological context 935 Conclusion 967 References 1027 General Index 1045 Index to Correspondence 1069 Hollander investigates the relation of Malthusian economics to that of the other great classicists - particularly Smith, Ricardo, J.B. Say, and the French physiocrats. He redefines our common perception of Malthus's method and character.