Concept explainers
The Malthus’ theory of human reproduction and its relevance.
Explanation of Solution
The Malthusian theory of human reproduction is that it is a living standard. It is based on food supply. The people have to rise above the subsistence. Thus, they can afford to have more children and increase population growth. Eventually, however, the population growth will overwhelm food supply growth and living standards will be pushed back to subsistence.
This theory works well for non-human life forms like bacteria and rabbit populations. This is continued to expand until there is a food supply to support them. They have a biological drive to procreate and lack any ability to reason that unchecked population growth might eventually have adverse effects.
In the pre-industrial period in the US, Europe and other the less-developed economies had a large number of births as a way to hedge against high rates of infant / childhood mortality. Nowadays, the standard of living is better than before so the risk of premature death decreases significantly. Thus, the families tend to focus on quality; not on maximizing the quantity of their family.
Concept Introduction:
Malthus theory: Malthus theory states that the population grows geometrically and food supply increases arithmetically.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 17 Solutions
Connect 2-Semester Access Card for Economics
- Complete the accompanying table and answer the accompanying questions. (L01, LO6, LO7) a. At what level of the control variable are net benefits maximized? b. What is the relation between marginal benefit and marginal cost at this levelof the variable? Control Variable Q Total Benefits B(Q) Total Cost C(Q) Net Benefits N(Q) Marginal Benefit MB(Q) Marginal Cost MC(Q) Marginal Cost MC(Q) 100 1200 950 60 101 1400 70 102 1590 80 103 1770 90 104 1940 100 105 2100 110 106 2250 120 107 2390 130 108 2520 140 109 2640 150 110 2750 160arrow_forwardSuppose that three volunteers are preparingcookies and cupcakes for a bake sale. Diana canmake 27 cookies or 18 cupcakes per hour; Andycan make 25 cookies or 17 cupcakes; and Sam canmake 10 cookies or 12 cupcakes. [ LO 2.2]a. Who has the absolute advantage at makingcookies?b. At making cupcakes?arrow_forwardAbdul’s utility function is given by U A 5 M A 2 y M B , where M A is Abdul’s wealth level and M B is Benjamin’s wealth level. Benjamin’s utility function is given by (LO1) U B 5 M B 2 y M A . Suppose M A 5 M B 5 10 initially, and suppose there is a joint project that Ab dul and Benjamin can undertake that will generate an additional 10 units of wealth to divide between them. The project is neither pleasant nor unpleasant. What is the minimum payment Abdul must be given to secure his agreement to perform the project? What is the minimum payment Benjamin must be given? Will they perform the project? (LO1)arrow_forward
- Newfoundland’s fishing industry has recently declined sharply due to overfish- ing, even though fishing companies were supposedly bound by a quota agree- ment. If all fishermen had abided by the agreement, yields could have been maintained at high levels. LO4 Model this situation as a prisoner’s dilemma in which the players are Company A and Company B and the strategies are to keep the quota and break the quota. Include appropriate payoffs in the matrix. Explain why overfishing is inevitable in the absence of effective enforcement of the quota agreement. Provide another environmental example of a prisoner’s dilemma. In many potential prisoner’s dilemmas, a way out of the dilemma for a would-be cooperator is to make reliable character judgments about the trustworthiness of potential partners. Explain why this solution is not avail- able in many situations involving degradation of the environment.arrow_forwardYour friend Sam has been asked to prepare appetizers for the university reception. She has anunlimited amount of ingredients and 6 hours inwhich to prepare them. Sam can make 300 minisandwiches or 150 servings of melon slices toppedwith smoked salmon and a dab of sauce per hour.[LO 2.1]a. What is Sam’s opportunity cost of makingone mini-sandwich?b. What is Sam’s opportunity cost of baking onemelon appetizer?c. Suppose the reception has been postponed,and Sam has an extra 4 hours to prepare.What is the opportunity cost of making onemini-sandwich now?d. Suppose the reception has been postponed,and Sam has an extra 4 hours to prepare.What is the opportunity cost of making onemelon appetizer now?e. Suppose Sam’s friend Chris helpsby preparing the melon slices, increasingSam’s productivity to 300 mini-sandwichesor 300 melon appetizers per hour. What isthe opportunity cost of making one minisandwich now?f. Suppose Sam’s friend Chris helps by preparing the melon slices, increasing…arrow_forwardWith current technology, suppose a firm is producing 400 loaves of banana bread daily. Also, assume that the least-cost combination of resources in producing those loaves is 5 units of labor, 7 units of land, 2 units of capital, and 1 unit of entrepreneurial ability, selling at prices of $40, $60, $60, and $20, respectively. If the firm can sell these 400 loaves at $2 per unit, will it continue to produce banana bread? If this firm’s situation is typical for the other makers of banana bread, will resources flow to or away from this bakery good?arrow_forward
- Suppose the marginal benefit of writing a contract is $100, independent of its length. Find the optimal contract length when the marginal cost of writing a contract of length L is: (LO3) a. MC(L) = 30 + 4L. b. MC(L) = 40 + 5L. c. What happens to the optimal contract length when the marginal cost of writing a contract declines?arrow_forwardTeletronics reported record profits of $100,000 last year and is on track to exceed those profits this year. Teletronics competes in a very competitive market where many of the firms are merging in an attempt to gain competitive advantages. Currently, the company’s top manager is compensated with a fixed salary that does not include any performance bonuses. Explain why this manager might nonetheless have a strong incentive to maximize the firm’s profits. (LO4, LO5)arrow_forward11.Explain how (if at all) each of the following events affects the location of a country’s production possibilities curve: LO5 a.The quality of education increases. b.The number of unemployed workers increases. c.A new technique improves the efficiency of extracting copper from ore. d.A devastating earthquake destroys numerous production facilities.arrow_forward
- With current technology, suppose a fifirm is producing 400 loaves of banana bread daily. Also assume that the least-cost combination of resources in producing those loaves is 5 units of labor, 7 units of land, 2 units of capital, and 1 unit of entrepreneurial ability, selling at prices of $40, $60, $60, and $20, respectively. If the fifirm can sell these 400 loaves at $2 per unit, will it continue to produce banana bread? If this fifirm’s situation is typical for the other makers of banana bread, will resources flow to or away from this bakery good?arrow_forwardThe figure below shows the market for large bags of potato chips. Market for Potato Chips in large bag units Price ($) 7 LO LO 5 3 2 1 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100110120 S Darrow_forwardWhat do we mean by “economic activity”?Economic Activity we mean the area of our social interactions in which people provide for their material needs and for those of their fellow human beings. It involves the production, the distribution, and the consumption of goods and services. #164. What does the Bible say about poverty and riches?Anyone who follows Jesus must never forget that first and foremost we are supposed to be ‘rich toward God’ (Lk.12:21). To become rich in material things is not a particularly Christian goal in life. And to be materially rich is not a sure sign of God’s special grace. Jesus teaches us to pray: ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ (Mt.6:11). With these words we ask the Father for all that we need for our earthly life. We do not strive for luxurious possessions but for the goods required for a happy life in moderate prosperity, the support of a family, works and charity, and participation in culture and education, as well as further development. #175. Is…arrow_forward