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Julian Simon once said that "surprise is the measure of information content, and scientific work is important in proportion to how surprising its results are, assuming that the facts and theory are sound." The Economics of Population: Classic Writings, edited by Simon and published after his death, is as surprising as it is sound. Beginning with Joseph Spengler's timeless essay, "History of Population Theories," Simon presents a collection of thoughts on economics and population from ancient philosophers such as Plato and Confucius to 20th century economists such as John Maynard Keynes.
Obviously, Simon's task required careful selection as well as an enormous amount of research. Some of the material is familiarfor example, the early opinions of Malthus-while some, such as John Graunt's account of burials and christenings in London during the 1660s, is less well known. But each essay is richly informative and reflective of the human character of its author and the time in which he wrote.
Sir William Petty, one of Graunt's contemporaries, sought to "give the World some light concerning the Numbers of People in England, with Wales, and in Ireland," including how many "live upon their Lands" and in other circumstances, including "Cheats and Thieves...and decrepit Old men."
Petty expanded his inquiry to include an investigation of "Whether the speedy Peopling of the Earth would make...For the good of Mankind [and]... fulfill the revealed Will of God." He concluded that a larger population would encourage the division of labor and therefore would reduce the costs of producing the "Arts of Delight and Ornament" as well as necessities. A more densely settled population would lessen the costs of transport and the...