2011/01/01 by Josef Ehmer, Ehmer, Josef
Arts and Humanities · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Social Sciences · #20. Jahrhundert #Asia #Asien #Bevölkerungsentwicklung #Europa #Europe #Familienplanung #Family Dynamics and Relationships #Far East #Fruchtbarkeit #Geburtenentwicklung #Historical Economic and Social Studies #Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes #Industriegesellschaft #Japan #Kinderzahl #Kontrolle #Mythos #Ostasien #Paradigmenwechsel #Reproduktion #Zeitgeschichte #birth trend #contemporary history #control #cultural factors #demographic factors #demographische Faktoren #family planning #fertility #historical development #historische Entwicklung #industrial society #kulturelle Faktoren #myth #number of children #paradigm change #population development #pre-industrial society #reproduction #twentieth century #vorindustrielle Gesellschaft
paper · doi:10.12759/hsr.36.2011.2.11-34
openalex publication_date 2011/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
In this paper, I argue that living with no or few children and low fertility was widespread in pre-industrial societies. After a critical discussion of demographic transition theory and the concept of 'natural fertility', I investigate fertility in early modern Europe. In doing so, I follow the suggestion of 'cultural demography' and combine quantitative and qualitative research. I show a great extent and many variations of deliberate birth control before the 'fertility decline' took place. This finding should help to see the actual level of fertility as less exceptional and dramatic than it is often claimed. Adapted from the source document.