Thomas Robert Malthus wrote an essay in 1798 called *An Essay on the Principle of Population*. He argued that "the power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man." He believe that population grew geometrically (exponentially), whereas its ability to feed itself only grew arithmetically. He believed the reproductive rates of the poor were the cause of the problem, and that those with health or mental defects should be restrained from marriage or having children, thus making him a forerunner of modern eugenics. Marx and Engels called him "a lackey of the bourgeoisie." Traditional Malthusians believe that charity for the poor is counterproductive, because it will only contribute to increasing their numbers. --- Source: [[Reference Notes/Scale]]