Causes and consequences of population growth : Benjamin Franklin’s observations

The short essay entitled Observations concerning the increase of mankind and the peopling of countries, written by Benjamin Franklin in 1751, traced some interesting and innovative insights relating to the causes and consequences of population growth. This pioneering work has been cited by many authors and has greatly influenced Malthus in the preparation of the second edition of his An Essay on the Principle of Population. This paper investigates Franklin’s Observations, and considers both its content (focusing on its demographic figures), and the underlying motivations that led Franklin to write it. The main message that emerges from the Observations is that England should not be afraid of the population growth in the American colonies given that it ensures a growing demand for English goods. The Observations were written with only a political purpose in mind and can be considered neither scientific nor pre-scientific. However, this essay contains several insights and some accurate predictions, highlighting Franklin’s ability to use his logic and deductive reasoning