GEORGE,HENRY ON MALTHUS,THOMAS,ROBERT - ABUNDANCE VS. SCARCITY

The present era marks the 100(th) anniversary of the death of Henry Ge orge and the 200(th) anniversary of the publication of Thomas Robert M althus's Essay in the Principles of Population. In observance of these historic dates, this paper examines George's critique of the work of Malthus and explores the ideological functions that both men served. G eorge contended that Malthusian population theory served as a means of social control by supporting the landed class and strongly opposing a meliorative public policy. George, on the other hand, lashed out again st the private ownership of land and advocated policies of equality an d social justice.