Births

Question 1

When were the three ‘baby booms’ in the 20th century?

Answer 1

1. After the First World War
2. After the Second World War (as a result of returning servicemen and their partners starting families that had been posponed)
3. In the 1960’s

Question 2

What is the TFR?

Answer 2

• The total fertility rate

- Is the average number of children that women will have during their fertile years

Question 3

What are the reasons for the decline in the birth rate?

Answer 3

1. Changes in women’s position during the 20th century
   - Including:
   a) legal equality with men
   b) increased educational opportunities
   c) more women in paid employment
   d) changes in attitude
   e) easier access to divorce
   - Harper (2012): this has resulted in a changed mind-set for women, meaning fewer babies
2. Decline in IMR
   - Harper: if more infants survive than die, parents will have fewer of them
   - The IMR fell due to:
   a) improved housing and better sanitation
   b) better nutrition
   c) better knowledge of hygiene
   d) improved services for mothers and children
3. Children are now an economic liability
   - As a result of financial pressures introduced by new laws and changing norms, parents now feel less able or willing than in the past to have a large family
4. Child centredness
   - In terms of family size, this has encouraged a shift from ‘quantity’ to ‘quality’

Question 4

What are the effects of changes in fertility?

Answer 4

1. The family
   - Smaller families mean more women are able to work and become a dual earner couple
2. The dependency ratio
   - The dependency ratio is the relationship between the size of the working/productive part of the population and the size of the non-working/dependent part of the population
   - A fall in the number of children reduces the ‘burden of dependency’ on the working population
   - In the longer term, fewer babies means a smaller working population which increases the burden of dependency again
   - Vanishing childhood
3. Public services and policies
   - Affects schools and child health services (less need)
   - Affects the cost of housing, maternity and paternity leave
   - An ageing population