The Declining Birth-rate: Its Causes and Effects

Abstract

THIS book constitutes the Report of, and includes the chief evidence taken by, the National Birth-rate Commission, instituted, with official recognition, by the National Council of Public Morals. The committee was a strong one, and included upon it Dr. Stevenson, Superintendent of Statistics for the General Register Office, and Dr. Newsholme, Medical Officer of the Local Government Board. The subject of the declining birth-rate is one of enormous importance at the present time. The birth-rate reached a maximum in 1876—36.3 per 1000 population—and has gradually fallen since then to about 23 at the present time, and this in spite of the marriage-rate having remained almost constant. The decline of the birth-rate has not operated uniformly throughout the country, but is more marked among the middle and upper classes. Thus in Hampstead the corrected birth-rate fell from 30.01 in 1881 to 17.55 in 1911, while the corresponding rates for Shoreditch are 31.32 and 30.16.

The Declining Birth-rate: Its Causes and Effects.

Pp. xiv + 450. (London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1916.) Price 10s. 6d. net.