Marxian Theory on Population Growth

Marxism is a socio-political and economic theory, developed by Karl Heinrich Marx (1818 – 1883), that throws light on the struggle between capitalists (people of wealth whose capital is invested in a business) and laborers. Karl Marx, while expressing his general theory on communism (the belief in a society without different social classes in which the methods of production are owned and controlled by all its members, and everyone works as much as they can and receives what they need, or a social and political system based on this belief), derived some ideas on population growth as well.

Historical Background

Malthusian theory, Marxian theory, and Demographic Transition Theory are the three most significant theories on population growth. Karl Marx, the German philosopher, economist, and revolutionary sociologist, developed a theory of surplus population using historical determinism and a dialectical approach. For his great contribution to the ideology of communism in his famous books “The Communist Manifesto” and “Das Kapital, he is regarded as the father of communism.

Statements of Marx

According to Karl Marx, there are two major economic classes in feudal and capitalist society, viz

• The Rich

• The Poor

Those people who own the factors of production (land, labor, and capital) and make profit by exploiting the poor are called the rich. While those who are given wages on the cost of their energy for the benefit of rich people are called the poor. As per Marx, the rich or the industrial class exploits the working class or the poor by capturing all the resources, leaving the working class with very few rights and no resources at all.

Marx referred to the profit earned by the rich as Surplus Value.

$\mathrm{“Surplus value”\:=\:Exchange\:Value\:(\:Profit\:)\:-\:Subsistence\:value\:(\:wage\:)}$

Over time, the process leads to the accumulation of capital in the pockets of rich people. In response, the working population tries to accumulate labor (the only commodity it possesses) in the hope of earning more wages to increase the family income. This leads to rapid population growth, thereby flooding the labor market. Due to the decreased demand of the laborers, the industrial society decreases the wages further.

The surplus availability of labor makes more profit for the industrial society without any hike in wages, leaving the lion's share to the owners. With more profit, the capitalist invests in machinery, replacing the many working population. This increases the unemployment level, creating misery among the working class. Now, the total wage of a family fails to suffice for the increased family strength, dwelling them in a sea of poverty. Henceforth, rich get richer and the poor get poorer, proving that poverty and misery are the evils of capitalism.

Criticism

Major points that were criticized are

• Marx failed to consider the importance of socio-economic factors while deriving the population-wage relationship.

• Increases in wages are not the only factor driving population growth. Improved health care increases life expectancy.

• The application of Marxian theory can only be realized in capitalist societies.

• The customs and religious faiths playing a significant role in birth rates are not considered by Marx.

• On considering the mother’s health, even the communist countries passed laws to check the population growth.

• Even in socialist countries like the former USSR, the workers were given contraceptives to control the birth rate.

• It is felt that Marxian theory on population is more inclined towards labor than the population itself.

• In a communist society, the workers would feel less motivated if their incentives were shared among their coworkers. This leads to stagnation in the economy in the long run.

• Marx's concept of communism, inherited by some countries like Russia and China, became unsuccessful.

Conclusion

According to Marx, population growth is a symptom of social injustice rather than a cause itself. Population growth is the consequence of the capitalist economic system, and not the ignorance or moral inferiority of the poor. To alleviate the problem of increasing poverty, Marx derived the concept of communism, where the surplus is shared among the population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Marxian theory on population growth exactly define?

The Marxian theory on population growth is a communist ideology that aims to address the tussle between industrial society and the working population that leads to population expansion and its related consequences such as unemployment and poverty.

What according to Marx are the two major economic classes?

According to Karl Marx, there are two major economic classes in feudal and capitalist society, viz.

• The Rich

• The Poor

Those people who own the factors of production (land, labor and capital) and make profit by exploiting the poor are called the rich. While those who are given wages on the cost of their energy for the benefit of rich people are called the poor.

What is meaning of the term “surplus value”?

Marx referred to the profit earned by the rich as Surplus Value.

$\mathrm{Surplus value\:=\:Exchange\:Value\:(\:Profit\:)\:-\:Subsistence\:value\:(\:wage\:)}$

What is the meaning of Communism?

The belief in a society without different social classes, in which the methods of production are owned and controlled by all its members, and everyone works as much as they can and receives what they need, or a social and political system based on this belief.