The Historical Fertility Transition: A Guide for Economists

Timothy Guinnane

Journal of Economic Literature, 2011, vol. 49, issue 3, 589-614

Abstract: The historical fertility transition is the process by which much of Europe and North America went from high to low fertility in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This transformation is central to recent accounts of long-run economic growth. Prior to the transition, women bore as many as eight children each, and the elasticity of fertility with respect to incomes was positive. Today, many women have no children at all, and the elasticity of fertility with respect to incomes is zero or even negative. This paper discusses the large literature on the historical fertility transition, focusing on what we do and do not know about the process. I stress some possible misunderstanding of the demographic literature, and discuss an agenda for future work. (JEL I12, J13, N30)

JEL-codes: I12 J13 N30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
Note: DOI: 10.1257/jel.49.3.589
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (172)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Historical Fertility Transition: A Guide for Economists (2010)
Working Paper: The Historical Fertility Transition: A Guide for Economists (2010)
Working Paper: The Historical Fertility Transition: A Guide for Economists (2010)
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