A Theory of Preindustrial Population Dynamics Demography, Economy, and Well‐Being in Malthusian Systems

Presents a simple model of preindustrial population dynamics that brings together the theoretical insights of Thomas Robert Malthus & Ester Boserup. Central to the model is the concept of well-being, which refers to those aspects of physical condition that influence an individual's capacity to survive & reproduce. Changes in the mean & variance in well-being are modeled, first, under a fixed system of food production &, second, in the face of subsistence change. Among other things, the model suggests that the long-term effects of economic change on the distribution of well-being are negligible, although both the mean & variance are likely to increase temporarily in the short run. The model is used to explore several issues of enduring importance to demographic anthropology, including the nature of population regulation, the relationship between population pressure & economic change, & the demographic consequences of the transition from hunting & gathering to settled agriculture. Comments are offered by George L. Cowgill; Robert E. Dewar; Nancy Howell; Lyle W. Konigsberg; J. H. Littleton & R. D. Attenborough; & Alan C. Swedlund. In a Reply, Wood acknowledges certain omissions in his model & seeks to incorporate other elements raised by commentators. 10 Figures, 149 References. Adapted from the source document.