Diffusion effects in the Belgian fertility transition : space-time analyses at the municipal and individual levels (1887–1934)

Between the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, couples all around Europe began to deliberately limit their offspring, leading to an unparalleled decline in fertility levels. Even though these transformations affected all European societies, they did not happen for everyone in all places at the same time. Changes in family behaviour typically started in certain groups in specific places and later spread to the rest of the population. The underlying mechanisms of the spread of new fertility trends, however, are still a matter of debate. On the one hand, it could be argued that... Mehr ...