Changes

Recent historical research on Europe and America before 1900 has refined the demographic transition theory. Historians point out the importance of the nuclear family (husband, wife and children living together, with no one else in the house) in contrast to the extended family (with various grandparents, in-laws and other relatives sharing the same house.)  Different religious, ethnic and cultural groups went through the demographic transition at different speeds. Roman Catholics, for example, had a group preference for larger families and an aversion to birth

Recent historical research on Europe and America before 1900 has refined the demographic transition theory. Historians point out the importance of the nuclear family (husband, wife and children living together, with no one else in the house) in contrast to the extended family (with various grandparents, in-laws and other relatives sharing the same house.)  Different religious, ethnic and cultural groups went through the demographic transition at different speeds. Roman Catholics, for example, had a group preference for larger families and an aversion to birth

control techniques until the 1960s.  Some historians argue the European Fertility Project failed to substantiate demographic transition theory. Therefore their accounts of the decline of fertility in Europe have tended to emphasize cultural or social explanations that are grounded in communication and social interaction.

control techniques until the 1960s.  Some historians argue the European Fertility Project failed to substantiate demographic transition theory. Therefore, their accounts of the decline of fertility in Europe have tended to emphasize cultural or social explanations that are grounded in communication and social interaction.

==Epidemiological transition==

==Epidemiological transition==

==Fertility control methods and the Pill==

==Fertility control methods and the Pill==

Nevin and Oris<ref>Muriel Neven and Oris, Michel. "Controle Religieux, Controle Social: La Fecondite Dans L'est De La Belgique Dans La Seconde Moitie du XIXe Siecle," ''Annales De Démographie Historique'' 2003 (2): 5-32. Issn: 0066-2062  

Nevin and Oris<ref>Muriel Neven and Oris, Michel. "Controle Religieux, Controle Social: La Fecondite Dans L'est De La Belgique Dans La Seconde Moitie du XIXe Siecle," ''Annales De Démographie Historique'' 2003 (2): 5-32. Issn: 0066-2062  

</ref> contrast the fertility of a Catholic rural area (Pays de Herve) and a working center, secularized and with left-wing tendencies (Tilleur), paying attention both to the pre-transitional period and to the beginning of the so-called demographic transition. Located in eastern Belgium, these communities are analyzed from three points of view: their economic and social history; rates of marriage, illegitimacy, and premarital conception, measures regarded as indicators of social control and religiosity; and fertility patterns. Results indicate important contrasts: traditional social controls persisted in Pays de Herve but not in Tilleur. Yet, the beginning of the transition did not appear as a revolution. In these very different populations, fertility strategies centered on the number of desired children and on their sex composition both before and after the transition. When birth control appeared, such cultural decisionmaking was enhanced; thus the fertility decline was in keeping with the family culture and was not, at least intially, a radical change.

</ref> contrast the fertility of a Catholic rural area (Pays de Herve) and a working center, secularized and with left-wing tendencies (Tilleur), paying attention both to the pre-transitional period and to the beginning of the so-called demographic transition. Located in eastern Belgium, these communities are analyzed from three points of view: their economic and social history; rates of marriage, illegitimacy, and premarital conception, measures regarded as indicators of social control and religiosity; and fertility patterns. Results indicate important contrasts: traditional social controls persisted in Pays de Herve but not in Tilleur. Yet, the beginning of the transition did not appear as a revolution. In these very different populations, fertility strategies centered on the number of desired children and on their sex composition both before and after the transition. When birth control appeared, such cultural decisionmaking was enhanced; thus the fertility decline was in keeping with the family culture and was not, at least initially, a radical change.

Szreter et al (2003) show that despite the advent of improved methods of contraception, especially after the invention of synthetic prophylactics, traditional methods of birth control, such as coitus interruptus and abortion, continued to be used in 19th- and 20th-century France, Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, and Finland. Fertility fell during this period at different times in different countries. Preference for one method over another was determined by ideologies of sexual and gender relations

Szreter et al. (2003) show that despite the advent of improved methods of contraception, especially after the invention of synthetic prophylactics, traditional methods of birth control, such as coitus interruptus and abortion, continued to be used in 19th- and 20th-century France, Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, and Finland. Fertility fell during this period at different times in different countries. Preference for one method over another was determined by ideologies of sexual and gender relations

==Regional studies==

==Regional studies==

* Gillis, John R.; Louise A. Tilly; and David Levine; eds. ''The European Experience of Declining Fertility, 1850-1970: The Quiet Revolution.'' 1992.  

* Gillis, John R.; Louise A. Tilly; and David Levine; eds. ''The European Experience of Declining Fertility, 1850-1970: The Quiet Revolution.'' 1992.  

* Greenwood, Jeremy and Seshadri, Ananth. "The U.S. Demographic Transition." ''American Economic Review'' (2002) 92(2): 153-159. Issn: 0002-8282 Fulltext: Jstor and Ebsco

* Greenwood, Jeremy and Seshadri, Ananth. "The U.S. Demographic Transition." ''American Economic Review'' (2002) 92(2): 153-159. Issn: 0002-8282 Fulltext: Jstor and Ebsco

* G. W. Jones et al, eds. ''The Continuing Demographic Transition.'' 1997. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=91090923 online edition]

* G. W. Jones et al., eds. ''The Continuing Demographic Transition.'' 1997. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=91090923 online edition]

* Kirk, Dudley. "The Demographic Transition." ''Population Studies'' (1996) 50(3): 361-387. Issn: 0032-4728 Fulltext: in Jstor  

* Kirk, Dudley. "The Demographic Transition." ''Population Studies'' (1996) 50(3): 361-387. Issn: 0032-4728 Fulltext: in Jstor  

* McNicoll, Geoffrey. "Policy Lessons of the East Asian Demographic Transition." ''Population and Development Review'' 2006 32(1): 1-25. Issn: 0098-7921  

* McNicoll, Geoffrey. "Policy Lessons of the East Asian Demographic Transition." ''Population and Development Review'' 2006 32(1): 1-25. Issn: 0098-7921