Untitled Quiz

Questions and Answers

How long did Ester Boserup live for?

1910 - 1999

Who was Ester Boserup?

A Danish economist who studied economic and agricultural development

Where did she work?

At the UN and other international organisations

What did she write?

'The Conditions of Agricultural Growth' in 1965 Signup and view all the answers

Whose view did she oppose?

Thomas Malthus's Signup and view all the answers

What kind of view did she have regarding population growth?

A more optimistic approach Signup and view all the answers

What did she consider larger populations as?

A positive thing that could be an asset Signup and view all the answers

What did she state about people and food supply?

If people were pressed for food, they would find ways to create more food production out of the land Signup and view all the answers

How would people get more food out of the land?

By cultivating the land more intensely, using extra manure and extra water, and by improving crops Signup and view all the answers

What did Boserup state about people and Malthus?

That people would invent their way out of a Malthusian crisis Signup and view all the answers

What may have driven technology development in Boserup's theory?

The Malthusian trap Signup and view all the answers

What was her theory summed up?

Boserup believed that population growth equals growth in agriculture and technology Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of developments that support Boserup's theory?

GM crops, the green revolution, and the bio revolution Signup and view all the answers

What did she say about overpopulation?

That people would use unsuitable farming practices that would degrade the land Signup and view all the answers

Name an example of land degradation.

In the Sahel region in North Africa, considerable desertification has occurred due to population pressure Signup and view all the answers

What did she state about Malthus's theory?

That it was based on a closed society assumption and in reality there would be a lot of migration Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ester Boserup Overview

Lived from 1910 to 1999, spanning a significant era in economic thought.
Renowned Danish economist focused on economic and agricultural development.

Contributions and Work

Worked with the UN and various international organizations, influencing global agricultural policies.
Authored "The Conditions of Agricultural Growth" in 1965, a pivotal work in agricultural economics.

Theoretical Perspectives

Opposed Thomas Malthus's pessimistic views on population growth.
Advocated a more optimistic stance, viewing larger populations as a potential asset rather than a burden.
Believed that under pressure for food, societies would innovate to increase food production.

Population and Food Production

Argued that human creativity would enable populations to overcome food shortages by improving farming techniques.
Suggested methods to enhance land productivity included more intensive cultivation, increased use of manure and water, and crop improvement.

Malthusian Crisis and Technology

Proposed that technology development may be driven by challenges such as the Malthusian trap.
Summarized her theory as one where population growth leads to advancements in agriculture and technology.

Examples Supporting Boserup's Theory

Developments like genetically modified crops, the Green Revolution, and the bio-revolution illustrate her theories in practice.

Overpopulation and Land Degradation

Warned that overpopulation could lead to unsustainable farming practices, ultimately degrading the land.
Highlighted the Sahel region in North Africa as an example of land degradation due to population pressure and desertification.

Critique of Malthus's Theory

Criticized Malthusian theory for its assumption of a closed society, emphasizing that migration and adaptability are crucial factors in human responses to resource limitations.