A Malthusian Model for Undergraduates
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November 11, 2025This article presents a simplified Malthusian growth model that is appropriate for undergraduate classes not requiring calculus. The model stresses the role of fixed factors of production and preferences for net fertility, which are the focus of academic research in this area. The Malthusian model can be heuristically derived from the Solow model. The connection to the Solow model helps reinforce key methodological tools, like phase diagrams and steady states, that are often difficult for new students in economics. The connection to the Solow model also allows students to think about how an economy might transition from a Malthusian world to a more modern regime captured by the Solow model. This transition plays a key role in academic growth theory, but is rarely covered in undergraduate classes.
by Gregory Casey
Casey, G. (2025). A Malthusian Model for Undergraduates. Available online at Journal of Economics Teaching, DOI: 10.58311/jeconteach/627535f7d921d89fd5025686a27306d28993faf3
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