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Jonathan Swift on People and Poverty.

Source :
Population & Development Review. Sep2024, Vol. 50 Issue 3, p923-928. 6p.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

This article discusses the views of Jonathan Swift, a writer and satirist, on population and poverty in the early eighteenth century. Swift observed the prevailing mercantilist doctrine that emphasized a large but low-wage labor force and positive trade balance for a country's wealth. He criticized this system, particularly in Ireland where he witnessed widespread poverty. Swift's works, including "The History of the Four Last Years of the Queen," an essay from 1724, and "A Modest Proposal," satirize the issues of population growth, unemployment, and poverty. These writings challenge conventional thinking and propose alternative solutions, such as selective immigration and the export of people. [Extracted from the article]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00987921
Volume :
50
Issue :
3
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Population & Development Review
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
179998667
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/padr.12668