neo-malthusian

The term is a modern compound, directly constructed from established English elements. The prefix 'neo-', from Greek, signals a revival or modern adaptation of an older theory. It is attached to 'Malthusian', an adjective formed from the surname of the 18th-century economist Thomas Robert Malthus, who famously theorized that population growth tends to outstrip food supply. Therefore, 'neo-Malthusian' literally means "a new form of Malthus's theory," specifically referring to 20th and 21st-century concerns that incorporate environmental degradation and resource depletion beyond just agricultural production, often advocating for stringent population control as a solution.

Structure: neo (new) + malthusian (relating to Malthus) neo: From Greek neos (new). A prefix meaning new, recent, or revived. malthusian: From the surname Malthus (Thomas Malthus) + the English adjectival suffix -ian (belonging to or relating to). The surname Malthus is of uncertain origin, possibly a locational name.