Childbearing

• Impacts of changing fertility rates-


  -Reduction in labour force- less people being born so gaps are starting to show in the labour force

  -Dependency ratio- ratio become unbalanced due to aging populations

  -Immigration- becomes more important with declining birth rates as this will fill the gaps in the labour force
• Impacts of changing fertility rates-

  -Growth in the beanpole family- Brannon- more dominant family type

  -Voluntary Childlessness- Harom- women choose not to have children due to availability of contraception

  -Decline in full time mothers- nurseries are more affordable with one child.
• Economic factors-

  The cost of raising a child is rising each year, estimated at around £235,000
• Changing values-


  Parent hood is a life-long and stressful commitments so couples are deciding they don't want children
• Infant mortality rate-


  Fewer people die as a child so fewer people aren't compensating by having more children. 1990 - 22.5% to 0.5% in 2015
• Geographic mobility-


  Modern labour force needs to be very mobile so its easier to have smaller families
• Reasons for trends-

  -Contraception- become more available so people are able to control the number of children they have and decide when to have them

  -Education- compulsory education (have to support children up to 18)
• Role of women-

  Women want a career of their own rather than a large family leading to them having children later in life