2007/01/01 by Rolf Gehrmann, Gehrmann, Rolf · 2 citations
Arts and Humanities · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Social Sciences · #Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences #Deutschland #Fertilität #Geburtenbeschränkung #Geburtenkontrolle #Germany #Historical Economic and Social Studies #Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes #Neunzehnte Jahrhundert #family limitation #fertility decline #nineteenth century
paper · doi:10.12759/hsr.32.2007.2.91-110
openalex publication_date 2007/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Using an exceptionally large database for Germany, this article considers whether there existed forms of family limitation on a wide scale in rural Germany before the mid of the nineteenth century. Different methods enable the detection of patterns of parity-dependent birth spacing that were not confined to small minorities, although they were most obvious amongst Calvinists, who also show evidence for stopping behaviour. Additionally, temporary birth spacing may have occurred in years of hardship. More important than these short-time variations are however longer periods of fertility depression that can be detected in the populations examined here. As far as Germany is concerned, the results undermine the conception of a constant high level of fertility before the decline and a strict opposition between 'modern' and 'premodern' behaviour with regard to birth control.