In 1798, Thomas Malthus posited that the world's food supply grew arithmetically while it's population grew geometrically, leading to the dour conclusion that certain natural correctives like starvation, war and pestilence would be inevitable.Since that time, any thesis that sets forth a similar conclusion via whatever mechanism is designated "Malthusian".
None of these has proven to be correct thus far, but is it just a matter of time? You can judge for yourself...read the original Essay on the Principle of Population by Thomas Malthus.
