Demography - Birth Rate

What is the birth rate?

number of live births per 1000 of the population per year

What has happened to the birth rate in the UK since 1900?

generally declined with some short term increases

What is the total fertility rate (TFR)?

the average number if children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years

What is the age specific fertility rate?

the number of live births per 1000 women of a particular age group

What legal and social changes have contributed to reduced birth rates?

• easier access to divorce

• access to abortion

• reliable contraception

How have changes in the position of women affected birth rates?

• legal equality

• increased educational opportunities

• more women in paid work

• changing attitudes to family life and women’s roles

Why does increased education of women reduce fertility rates?

• focus on careers

• delayed childbearing

• fewer children

How does access to contraception affect birth rates?

allows couples to control fertility and family size

How has access to abortion affected birth rates?

• allows unwanted pregnancies to be terminated

• fewer births

What does Harper argue about infant mortality and birth rates?

• a fall in infant mortality leads to a fall in birth rates

• parents no longer need extra children as insurance

Why was infant mortality high in the past?

• disease

• poor sanitation

• poor healthcare

Why has infant mortality declined?

• improved housing

• better sanitation

• improved healthcare

• better nutrition

How does declining infant mortality influence family size?

parents are confident children will survive so choose to have fewer births

What did Ariès argue about changing views of children?

• rise of child centredness

• children seen as special and requiring more care and investment

How does child centredness affect birth rates?

parents choose to have fewer children because children require more time, attention, and resources

What are the economic costs of children?

• childcare

• housing

• education

• loss of income from childcare responsibilities

How were children viewed in pre-industrial society?

economic assets who contributed to family income

How did industrialisation change the economic role of children?

child labour laws and compulsory education reduced children’s economic value

Why did compulsory schooling reduce birth rates?

children became financially dependent for longer

How do higher living standards influence birth rates?

families choose to have a better quality of life by investing more resources in fewer children

What did Becker argue about the cost of children?

higher income families spend more on children, increasing the cost of raising them

How does urbanisation influence birth rates?

children are less economically useful in urban environments - smaller families are preferred

What trend exists regarding births outside marriage?

• births outside marriage or civil partnerships are now common

• sometimes higher than within marriage

What is the dependency ratio?

the relationship between the number of dependants and the number of working age people

Who are dependants in society?

• children under 16

• elderly people over retirement age

What is the youth dependency ratio?

the ratio of people aged 0-15 compared to the working age population

What is the elderly dependency ratio?

the proportion of people aged 65+ compared to the working age population

How do falling birth rates affect the dependency ratio in the short term?

fewer children reduces the dependency burden on the working population

How do falling birth rates affect the dependency ratio in the long term?

there is a smaller future workforce to support the ageing population

Why could falling birth rates create economic problems?

fewer workers to generate taxes and support the ageing population

What services may face pressure from an ageing population?

• pensions

• care homes

• NHS

What is the sandwich generation?

working adults supporting both children and elderly relatives

What are some positive effects of a more child centred society?

• more time spent with children

• more money spent on children

• stronger child welfare protections

What are some criticisms of a child centred society?

• consumerism targeting children

• tougher childhood pressures

• children may have less independence