Factors Affecting Fertility I Economic Factors A The

Factors Affecting Fertility

I. Economic Factors • A. The level of economic development – higher dev. =lower BR

I. Economic Factors B. 2 types of society 1. Agrarian Society – kids considered an asset, help work

I. Economic Factors 2. Developed world – kids a liability a. small families = increased standard of living b. in hard times people have less kids to maintain standard of living c. high cost of raising/educating kids is incentive to have small families

II. Social Factors A. the machismo factor – in Lat Am the head of the household shows his manhood by the number of kids he has

II. Social Factors B. traditional roles of women – women valued by # of kids they have

II. Social Factors C. adult sons care for elderly – sons highly valued

II. Social Factors D. religion 1. Catholics – oppose birth control 2. Buddhism – birth control ok 3. Hinduism – birth control ok but son highly valued 4. Islam – oppose birth control

II. Social Factors E. literacy rates 1. high lit/ed = low birth rate 2. low lit/ed = high birth rate

II. Social Factors F. changing attitudes towards women’s societal roles 1. acceptability of birth control 2. lower family sizes becoming acceptable

II. Social Factors G. infant mortality rate 1. areas w/ high rates have larger families 2. areas w/ low rates have small families

II. Social Factors F. age structure – if the average of a population is low, the birth rate will be high

III. Political Factors A. Pro Natal Policy Examples – policies that encourage having kids

III. Political Factors 1. France a. improved day care b. employees given time off to spend w/ kids

III. Political Factors 2. Africa – belief that pop = political power and economic growth comes from pop

III. Political Factors B. Anti Natal Policy Examples – policies for not having kids

III. Political Factors 1. China – one child policy