Marriage and fertility in the developed countries.

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  • Author(s): Westoff CF
  • Source:
    Scientific American [Sci Am] 1978 Dec; Vol. 239 (6), pp. 51-7.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Scientific American Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0404400 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0036-8733 (Print) Linking ISSN: 00368733 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Sci Am Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: New York, NY : Scientific American
    • Subject Terms:
      Birth Rate* ; Fertility* ; Marriage*; Adult ; Age Factors ; Emigration and Immigration ; Employment ; Europe ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Population Growth ; United States
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Indexing Agency: PIP Local ID #: 781126. Indexing Agency: POP Local ID #: 00068481.
      Keywords: Birth Rate; Demographic Factors; Economic Development*; Economic Factors; Evaluation; Evaluation Report*; Family Size; Fertility; Fertility Measurements; Fertility Rate--changes*; International Migration; Marriage; Marriage Patterns--changes*; Motivation; Nuptiality; Population; Population Dynamics; Population Policy; Population Size; Social Change; Zero Population Growth*
      Local Abstract: [PIP] Most developed countries have reached zero population growth or less and, while population projections have often proved badly off-target, it seems that currently low fertility levels are the result of a long-term trend, which was interrupted in the last 100 years only by the still-unexplained postwar baby boom, and which will probably continue. The declining trend has accompanied economic development and modernization, which have transformed the economic value of children, making them a drain on resources rather than a source of income. The concomitant social changes seem largely irreversible: urban economy, the decline in traditional authority, universal, prolonged education, equality of women, low infant mortality, high consumer demands and sophisticated birth control technology are all here to stay. The theory that fertility exhibits a cyclical pattern based on people's perception of their degree of economic and social opportunity ignores the other elements affecting fertility behavior, especially the radical change in the status and expectations of women. Several trends in marriage and reproductive behavior in the U.S., Denmark and Sweden reinforce the presumption that fertility will remain low: declining number of marriages; postponement of marriage; increased tendency for unmarried couples to live together; instability of marriage shown by high divorce rates and declining remarriage rates; and increasing economic activity by women. The traditional institution of marriage is losing its economic, sexual, sociological and parenting rationales. Thus, declining fertility is both cause and consequence of changes in marriage. In Europe, where the decline is more advanced than in the U.S., governments are concerned that population growth will be too low and have instituted social welfare measures to induce and facilitate childbearing and childrearing. As women become more career-oriented, greater incentives will have to be provided. Manipulating immigration quotas may solve the short-term numbers problem but creates other social problems. Serious thought must be given to the effects of negative population growth.
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 19781201 Date Completed: 19790324 Latest Revision: 20190819
    • Publication Date:
      20240829
    • Accession Number:
      10.1038/scientificamerican1278-51
    • Accession Number:
      734438