ester boserups theory

Question 1

whats the 2 fundamental different ways of the Interrelationship between Pop Growth and Food Supply (malthusian theory)

Answer 1

1. malthusian approach
   - changes in agricultural conditions affect the demographic situation
2. Malthusian “subsistence” curve
   - As population increases, the food per person decreases

Question 2

what explains the Malthusian “subsistence” curve

Answer 2

• malthusians based their reasoning on the belief that the supply of food is inherently inelastic - relatively fixed or slow to change
• this inelasticity determines the rate of population growth

Question 3

what does malthus’ view that ‘inelasticity determines the rate of population growth’ suggest

Answer 3

we could view population as a dependent variable – Population growth is dependent on agricultural production (independent variable)
- food production as a limiting factor of population growth

Question 4

what did Malthus et al write about the Western Hemisphere

Answer 4

• Production only expands by the creation of new fields
• A limited amount of land (fields) = the limits to agriculture
• pre-industrial societies have such low rates of population growth - insufficient food supplies due to overpopulation or at least the population limit
• If there was rapid pop growth? It was through exogenous introductions of technology

Question 5

who is ester boserup

Answer 5

Danish economist who did field work for the UN and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Asia and Africa

Question 6

what are boserups view about slow population growth and agricultural output

Answer 6

• slow pop growth - happens due to different types of agricultural intensification
• agricultural output - ever shifting due to demographic needs

Question 7

difference between Malthus and Boserups view about the interrelationship between Pop Growth and Food Supply

Answer 7

malthus
- slow pop growth - insufficient food supply due to limited fields
- agricultural output - constant

boserup
- slow pop growth - happens due to different types of agricultural intensification
- agricultural output - ever shifting due to demographic needs

Question 8

what 5 main types does boserup characterise land into

Answer 8

1) Forest Fallow
2) Bush Fallow
3) Short Fallow
4) Annual Cropping
5) Multi-Cropping

Question 9

what is forest fallow

Answer 9

• Forests are cleared, planted and harvested for a year or two - then left fallow for 20-25 years for the forest to grow back
• Sometimes called Slash and Burn or Shifting Cultivation
• Such frequent moves are necessary - soil quickly loses its fertility and crops will start to fail after only a few years

Question 10

what is bush fallow

Answer 10

• Forests are cleared, planted and grown for a year or two, and then left fallow for 6 to 10 years for just bushes to grow back up
• Land around the village is used almost continuously

Question 11

what are Forest and Bush Fallow types of

Answer 11

Shifting Cultivation

Question 12

what is short fallow

Answer 12

• The fallow period lasts for just one year or a couple of years
• Only grasses are allowed to grow back up
• Could be called Grass Fallow

Question 13

what is annual cropping

Answer 13

• Land is left uncultivated for only several months
• Usually between the harvesting of a single crop

Question 14

what is multi-cropping

Answer 14

Same plot of land bears two or more successive crops every year

Question 15

what is a possible 6th land use

Answer 15

Double Cropping
- Growing two or more crops in the same space during a single growing season
- A form of polyculture
◦ A second crop is planted after the first is harvested
◦ A second crop is planted amidst the first before the first has been harvested

Question 16

what leads to more intensive land use (1-6)

Answer 16

Under pressure of increasing population in the under developed regions of the World
- This change in intensification was completely missed by the Malthusians
- They had situated their world view by seeing only Multi or Annual Cropping

Question 17

Malthusian vs Boserup view on land use

Answer 17

Malthusian: As population increases, there is less food to go around leading to overpopulation and a population “crash” to correct for overpopulation

Boserupian: As population increases, there is pressure to innovate to more intensive land cultivation thus raising the carrying capacity

Question 18

Malthusian vs Boserup view on population and agriculture

Answer 18

Malthus viewed population as a dependent variable – Population growth is dependent on agricultural production

Boserup was viewing population as the independent variable – Agricultural production is dependent on population growth

Question 19

Malthus theory drawback

Answer 19

sees the world fixed in time - Technology plays a pivotal role in avoiding overpopulation

Question 20

boserups theory drawback

Answer 20

Boserup places the world on a continuum of development

Question 21

how is boserups theory different

Answer 21

not just about agriculture or intensification (making existing land more productive)

Question 22

how is Boserup not just limited to intensification

Answer 22

(making existing land more productive)
Shifts in Tool usage:
1) No Tools
2) Hoe Systems
3) Plough Systems
1) Light Plough
2) Heavy Plough
3) Multiple-Ploughs

Shifts in Labor usage:
1) Human Labor
2) Oxen Labor
3) Horse Labor
4) Mechanized
1) One/Two Oxen
2) Two+ Oxen/Horses
3) Multiple-Mechanized