Q. Malthus argued that the population grows in a _____ progression, while agricultural production/food supply grows in a ____ progression.

Correct Answer: d) Geometric, Arithmetic

Explanation:

Thomas Malthus, in his famous work “An Essay on the Principle of Population” (1798), argued that population growth and food supply grow at different rates, leading to potential issues of scarcity and famine. Specifically:

1. Population Growth: Malthus claimed that population grows in a geometric progression (e.g., 2, 4, 8, 16, etc.), meaning it increases exponentially over time if unchecked.

2. Food Supply Growth: On the other hand, he argued that agricultural production or food supply grows in an arithmetic progression (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), meaning it increases linearly over time.

This mismatch between the rapid growth of population and the slower growth of food supply, according to Malthus, would lead to overpopulation and resource scarcity unless checked by “positive checks” (like famine, disease, and war) or “preventive checks” (like moral restraint and delayed marriage).

Thus, the correct answer is d) Geometric, Arithmetic.