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Malthus
held strong views on the English poor laws.
These laws provided payments to poor families through their parish
churches. The laws also restricted
the mobility of the poor, since one could register for assistance only in
his own parish.
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Summarize
Malthus’s analysis of the effects of the poor laws. Note the points at which he uses demand/supply analysis, points
out tradeoffs and unintended consequences,
and discusses the shape of the supply curve for unskilled labor.
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Without
using the term, Malthus argues that the poor laws produce moral hazard. What illustration of this principle does he
provide?
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To
what extent is Malthus’s critique of the poor laws valid? To what extent, if any, is it applicable to
modern welfare systems?
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With
what does Malthus propose to replace the poor laws? What benefits does he believe would follow from such a revision
in the laws?