Malthusian

Malthusian. Referring to the gloomy views of Thomas R. Malthus, an English clergyman and economist (1766-1834). Malthus expounded the theory that world population tends to increase faster than food supply and therefore must be controlled by famine, disease, or war. Modern-day Malthusians, sometimes styled Neo-Malthusians, advocate measures to restrict population growth to avoid the unpleasant results that may otherwise ensue.