Scholarly contributions Ester Boserup

this graph shows how rate of food supply may vary never reaches carrying capacity, because every time gets near, there invention or development causes food supply increase.

although boserup regarded anti-malthusian, both insights , of malthus can comfortably combined within same general theoretical framework.

boserup argued when population density low enough allow it, land tends used intermittently, heavy reliance on fire clear fields, , fallowing restore fertility (often called slash , burn farming). numerous studies have shown such methods favorable in total workload , efficiency (output versus input). in boserup’s theory, when rising population density curtails use of fallowing (and therefore use of fire) fields moved towards annual cultivation. contending insufficiently fallowed , less fertile plots, covered grass or bushes rather forest, mandates expanded efforts @ fertilizing, field preparation, weed control, , irrigation. these changes induce agricultural innovation, increase marginal labour cost farmer well. higher rural population density, more hours farmer must work same amount of produce. therefore, workloads tend rise while efficiency drops. process of raising production @ cost of more work @ lower efficiency boserup describes agricultural intensification .