ABSTRACT
This paper investigates the agricultural bias pervading T.R.Malthus’s economics. The question arises whether and to what extent the bias reflects a debt to the Physiocrats. That Malthus was aware in 1798 of the French literature, though possibly only at second hand, is clear; that by 1803 he had become acquainted at first hand with that literature is also certain. I shall show that though Malthus was sometimes critical-a prime example is his objection to the Single Tax proposal-it was because he regarded the French economists as failing to work out the full logic of their position. He in fact took the doctrine of a surplus peculiar to the agricultural sector further than they did themselves, attempting to strengthen it as its weak points (as in value theory) and seeking to minimize doctrinal differences. The significance of the question of literal ‘debt’ is reduced considering the active contribution made to what may be termed ‘doctrinaire’ Physiocracy.
