NEW MALTHUSIANISM 105
and that great wisdom and insight are needed to attain
to satisfactory adjustments. .
Although the large and relatively unoccupied spaces
in Asia, Africa, South America and Australia could
perhaps be used, for some little time, to meet shortages
in the food-supplies, the existing rate of increase will
soon exhaust these, and it is not to be forgotten that
many countries are NOt even Now able to meet their
own requirements by means of such agriculture as
they can possibly develop, a feature which has already
been considered. The food-supply and bther supplies
necessary to maintain whatever state of civilisation is
adhered to, and the finding of profitable occupation
for human beings, mean that there will always be a
pressure against unrestricted increase. The form which
the newer Malthusianism endeavours to take account
of, is the necessary adjustment to the complex of
modern conditions. It endeavours, also, to formulate
ideas as to the nature of the problem which urgently
needs solution, if the human race is in any way to
minimise the evils which are now threatening.
When we remember that throughout the world,
enterprising men, driven by the spirit of world-com-
petitions, are considering the futures of their activities,
are asking, “ What will be the needs of the industries
upon which they depend?” and “ What opportunities
still exist for further profitable activity ? ”—we see that
these questions involve a wide outlook and an interest
in other peoples’ countries and conditions, if they are
to be answered satisfactorily. In this connection has
arisen a matter that has given pause to all economic
thinkers with vision. ‘This is what has been called the
“ anonymity of capital.” The fact that the uses and
applications of capital are not associated with particular
persons, nor are they collateral with particular nation-
ality, has also shown that the economic organisation of
the world is, at present, very unsatisfactory. This was