Book contents
- An Economic History of Europe
- New Approaches to Economic and Social History
- An Economic History of Europe
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Tables
- Figures
- Maps
- Boxes
- Preface to the Third Edition
- Preface to the Second Edition
- Preface to the First Edition
- Introduction:
- 1 The Making of Europe
- 2 Europe from Obscurity to Economic Recovery
- 3 Population and Resource Constraints
- 4 The Nature and Extent of Economic Growth in the Pre-industrial Epoch
- 5 Institutions and Efficiency
- 6 Knowledge, Technology Transfer and Convergence
- 7 Money, Credit and Banking
- 8 Trade and Globalization
- 9 Factor Markets and Globalization
- 10 What Governments (Should) Do
- 11 Inequalities between Individuals, Households and Nations
- Conclusion and Epilogue
- Appendix: Choosing and Using Historical Data
- Glossary
- Index
- References
3 - Population and Resource Constraints
Published online by Cambridge University Press: aN Invalid Date NaN
Book contents
- An Economic History of Europe
- New Approaches to Economic and Social History
- An Economic History of Europe
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Tables
- Figures
- Maps
- Boxes
- Preface to the Third Edition
- Preface to the Second Edition
- Preface to the First Edition
- Introduction:
- 1 The Making of Europe
- 2 Europe from Obscurity to Economic Recovery
- 3 Population and Resource Constraints
- 4 The Nature and Extent of Economic Growth in the Pre-industrial Epoch
- 5 Institutions and Efficiency
- 6 Knowledge, Technology Transfer and Convergence
- 7 Money, Credit and Banking
- 8 Trade and Globalization
- 9 Factor Markets and Globalization
- 10 What Governments (Should) Do
- 11 Inequalities between Individuals, Households and Nations
- Conclusion and Epilogue
- Appendix: Choosing and Using Historical Data
- Glossary
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter analyses the relationship between population growth and resource constraints in European history, focusing on the Malthusian theory, which posits that population growth leads to stagnation due to finite resources. The chapter challenges this view by examining how technological innovations, agricultural improvements and changes in fertility strategies affected population dynamics. It explores how societies adapted to resource constraints and avoided the Malthusian trap through mechanisms such as the demographic transition. The chapter also uses case studies such as the decline of the Roman Empire to discuss the relevance of simple models for interpreting historical processes and presents nuanced insights into the complex interplay between population, resources and economic development.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- An Economic History of EuropeKnowledge, Institutions and Welfare, Prehistory to the Present, pp. 64 - 84Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
References
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