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Subject: Economics
Semester: 2
Period: 4
Week: 21
School Name:
Teacher’s Name:
Subject: Economics
Grade Level: Grade 11
Week & Period: Week 21, Period IV
Date:
Topic: Population and Labor Market
Sub-topic: Malthusian Theory of Population Growth
Specific Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:
- Define and explain the Malthusian theory of population
- Analyze the assumptions and predictions of the theory
- Critically evaluate the relevance of the Malthusian theory to modern Liberia
A – Anticipation (Engage learners)
Start with a reflective question:
“What happens when the number of people in a community grows faster than the food supply?”
Use a simple cartoon or meme showing people fighting over a loaf of bread to prompt discussion.
Then ask:
“Do you think population growth is a threat to national development? Why or why not?”
Introduce the concept of Thomas Malthus, the first economist to formally study population problems.
B – Building Knowledge (Core Content)
- What is the Malthusian Theory?
Proposed by Thomas Robert Malthus in 1798.
He argued that:
- Population grows geometrically (2, 4, 8, 16…)
- Food production grows arithmetically (2, 4, 6, 8…)
Thus, population would eventually outgrow food supply, leading to famine, disease, and war.
- Assumptions of the Theory
- People need food to survive
- Passion between the sexes will remain constant
- Population, if unchecked, will double every 25 years
- Preventive and Positive Checks
- Preventive checks: Delayed marriages, family planning, moral restraint
- Positive checks: Famine, war, diseases, and natural disasters
- Criticisms of the Theory
- Did not foresee technological advancement (e.g., mechanized farming)
- Population growth does not always lead to hunger
- Ignored the role of distribution of food, not just production
- Family planning and education have reduced unchecked population growth
- Relevance to Modern Liberia
- Some areas face food insecurity despite low population
- However, urban overcrowding (e.g., Monrovia) and high birth rates still raise concerns
- Policy makers use modern data, not only Malthusian views
C – Consolidation (Application and Reflection)
Class Activity:
Divide the class into two groups. One group argues for Malthus (why his theory is true today), the other against (why it is outdated). Debrief the discussion.
Critical Thinking Prompt:
“If Liberia’s population doubles in the next 15 years, how should the government respond?”
Graphical Illustration:
Draw or display:
- A geometric population growth curve
- An arithmetic food supply curve
- Mark the point where population exceeds food supply (Malthusian Crisis Point)
Assignment:
Write a paragraph (100–120 words) answering:
“Do you think the Malthusian theory applies to Liberia today? Give two reasons for your answer.”
Teacher’s Reflection:
- Did learners understand the difference between positive and preventive checks?
- Did the debate help them think critically about food and population in Liberia?
- Who needs extra help understanding geometric vs. arithmetic growth?