Reasons of the decline in birth rate

• Changes in the position of women:

  • increased educational opportunities
  • more women in paid work
  • change in attitude towards family life and the women's role
  • wider access to abortion and contraception
• Fall in infant mortality rate

  • improved housing, sanitation, nutrition
  • knowledge of hygiene and child health
  • improved technology
  • antibiotics
• Children as an economic liability:

  • laws banning child labour coupled with the introduction of compulsory schooling has meant that children stay economically dependent for longer
• Child centeredness:

  • childhood is now socially constructed and an important period of life
  • parents focus on quality not quantity meaning they have fewer children but lavish more attention and resources on them