Malthus and classical economics

In this scholarly monograph, Mr. Ambi rajan has made an attempt to consider Malthus's economic theory as a whole i.e. his Essay on Population as well as Principles in relation to Classical Poli tical Economy. A brief biographical study of Malthus and background sketch of his Age are followed by a long Section on the Malthusian Population Theory and several clearly planned dis cussions on the main categories into which the classical economists arranged their thoughts. Malthus is the centre, and Adam Smith, Ricardo, Nassau Senior, J. S. Mill and others are considered mainly in so far as they anticipate, con tradict or confirm the conclusions of Malthus on the traditional problems of classical economics which have by no means lost their validity even today. Malthus's economic thought has a pointed contemporaneous relevance, especially to the underdeveloped countries and Mr. Ambirajan's study, with its wide compre hension and clear style, will both intro duce the reader to the life and of Malthus and help him to appreciate what is abiding in the work of the classical economists.