Fertility

The study of fertility examines childbearing — its levels, determinants, and change — a core component of population dynamics.

Scope

It covers fertility measurement, the proximate determinants of fertility, the economic and social theories of fertility, and fertility transition.

Core questions

• What determines how many children people have?
• How and why do fertility rates change?
• What are the proximate mechanisms of fertility?
• How do economics and culture shape childbearing?

Key concepts

• Total fertility rate
• Proximate determinants
• Quantity-quality tradeoff
• Fertility transition
• Contraception
• Tempo and quantum

Key theories

Economics of fertility

Becker treated children as a choice subject to costs and benefits, founding the economic theory of fertility.

Proximate determinants

Bongaarts identified the proximate behavioural and biological factors through which social forces affect fertility.

History

Fertility research combines the economic theory of fertility (Becker), the proximate-determinants framework (Bongaarts), and demographic-transition theory, central to understanding population change.

Debates

Why does fertility decline?

Economic, cultural-diffusion, and institutional explanations of fertility transition.

Key figures

• Gary Becker
• John Bongaarts

Seminal works

• becker-1960
• bongaarts-1978

Frequently asked questions

What are the proximate determinants of fertility?

The behavioural and biological factors (e.g., marriage, contraception, breastfeeding) through which social forces directly affect fertility (Bongaarts).