Population Theories and Conceptual Schemes

Abstract

Understanding population dynamics involves studying the particulars as instances of some general principles. A search for general principles of population dynamics has been going on for a long time. No one has discovered a definitive, allencompassing, space-and-time invariant set of principles of population change, but many have contributed interesting ideas. A familiarity with some of the wellknown ideas is expected of all population students. Let us start with Malthus. We will then go on to Marx and others, including the contributors to the formulation and reformulation of what has come to be known as the demographic transition theory.