Available online
Description
Leslie Wagner, Lecturer in Economics, examines the theories of Thomas Malthus about the economic effects of population growth. The Law of Diminishing Returns is demonstrated in a small scale exampl...e, and then applied to world population increase. Malthus concluded that population increase would continue until the world came to starvation point, but Wagner points out that this has not in fact occurred because of population control and because of increases in land productivity and in the amount of land available for food production. These factors do not invalidate the law of diminishing returns, but they do remove certain conditions which are necessary for its operation. The first section of the programme is concerned with feeding a rising population; in the second section Wagner talks to Walter Elkan, Professor of Economics at the University of Durham, about the related problem of finding jobs for them. Elkan explains that in developing countries the labour force tends to increase faster than additional employment, and suggests that this problem could be overcome by the encouragement of labour intensive methods in economic development.
Leslie Wagner, Lecturer in Economics, examines the theories of Thomas Malthus about the economic effects of population growth. The Law of Diminishing Returns is demonstrated in a small scale exampl...e, and then applied to world population increase. Malthus concluded that population increase would continue until the world came to starvation point, but Wagner points out that this has not in fact occurred because of population control and because of increases in land productivity and in the amount of land available for food production. These factors do not invalidate the law of diminishing returns, but they do remove certain conditions which are necessary for its operation. The first section of the programme is concerned with feeding a rising population; in the second section Wagner talks to Walter Elkan, Professor of Economics at the University of Durham, about the related problem of finding jobs for them. Elkan explains that in developing countries the labour force tends to increase faster than additional employment, and suggests that this problem could be overcome by the encouragement of labour intensive methods in economic development.
| Module code and title: | D100, Understanding society: a foundation course |
|---|---|
| Item code: | D100; 34 |
| First transmission date: | 03-12-1970 |
| Published: | 1970 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:22:59 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Desmond Smith |
| Contributors: | Walter Elkan; Robert McNamara; Leslie Wagner |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Law of Diminishing Returns; Population; Thomas Malthus |
| Footage description: | Leslie Wagner introduces the programme. Portrait of Malthus. The programme will analyse his arguments. Wagner analyses the law of diminishing returns. A film demonstrates the component concepts of the law. The law is further demonstrated by an animated graph. The law is extended to illustrate Malthus' theory of the effects of population growth, again using the animated graph. Wagner isolates two weaknesses in Malthus' arguments - increase of land available and voluntary reduction of family size. Leslie Wagner isolates another reason for Malthus' inaccuracy - increased land productivity. Film of Robert McNamara touring farms in India. The above factor is demonstrated on an animated graph. Wagner links the problems of food supply and population growth to the general idea of economic development. Interview with Walter Elkan: the problems of finding and creating employment in developing countries discussed. Shots of Indian village farming techniques, Cant building, town life, road building and public construction. Leslie Wagner sums up the programme |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/70145 |
| Production number: | 00520_1234 |
| Videofinder number: | 3389 |
| Available to public: | no |
