The Fear of Population Decline provides an elaborated discussion on the concept of population decline. The book is comprised of seven chapters that show the extent to which demographic developments form a part of a much longer continuum of discussion and behavior.

In the opening chapter, the book discusses the nature of population decline, and then proceeds to demonstrate the complex ways in which fears of population decline emerged in the period 1870-1945. Chapter 4 details the advancement in the period 1945-1965, while Chapters 5 and 6 discuss the phenomenon of baby bust and policy responses to it. The last chapter talks about the nature and possible dangers of population decline.

The text will be of great interest to readers who are concerned with the implication of population decline for the society as a whole.

Contenu

List of Tables and Figures
Preface
1 The Nature of Population Decline
The Recurrent Fear of Population Decline
Images and Terminologies
The Demography of Population Decline
The Basic Population Equation
Measurements of Fertility, Mortality, and Growth
How a Population Ages
The Momentum of Population Growth
Population Projections
Period versus Cohort Rates
2 Demography and International Politics, 1870-1945
Introduction
The European Demographic Transition
Strategic Demography, 1870-1914
The French Connection
The British Connection
Strategic Demography, 1914-1945
European Security
Imperial Power
Communism
3 Demography and Internal Politics, 1870-1945
The Eugenic Approach to Population Decline
Positive Eugenics
Negative Eugenics
Social Democracy and Population Decline
4 Population Dynamics and Policies, 1945-1964
Political and Economic Change after the Second World War
The Baby Boom
The Resurgence of Fertility
Interpretations of the Baby Boom
Policy Developments in the Postwar Years
5 Fertility and Population Growth, 1965-1984
The Decline of Fertility since the Mid-1960s
Contrasting Developments in the Third World: The "Population Explosion"
Trends in International Migration
Political and Ideological Movements
The Environmental Movement
The Abortion Reform and Feminist Movements
The Pro-Life or Right-to-Life Movements
Trends in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union
Romania
Other Eastern European Countries
6 Policy Implications and Responses, 1965-1984
Introduction
General Policy Implications
Age Structure and Public Policy
Demographic and Economic Significance of Immigration
Changing Population Composition with Low Fertility and Substantial Immigration
Political Responses to Demographic Changes since 1965
Efforts to Reverse Declining Fertility
Effort to Adapt to Low Fertility Trends
The Politics of Population in France and West Germany since 1965
France
West Germany
7 Conclusions
Alarums and Excursions
Perceptual Distortions Based on Historical Experience
Misinterpretations of Population Projections
Ideological Elements in the Fear of Population Decline
Demographic Differentials, Both International and Internal
Economic and Social Welfare Elements in the Fear of Population Decline
Keynesian Economics and Population Growth
International Politics and Pronatalism
Projections of Plausible Futures
Policy Responses to Fears of Population Decline
Policies Affecting Fertility and Population Growth
Policies Affecting Retirement Benefits
Appendices
Appendix A: Total Fertility Rates, 1920-1983
Appendix B: European Economic Community Resolution on Measures to Promote Population Growth (1984)
Appendix C: U.S. Policy Statement at the United Nations International Conference on Population (1984)
Introduction
Policy Objectives
Population, Development, and Economic Policies
Health and Humanitarian Concerns
Technology as a Key to Development
Appendix D: Resolution by Romanian Communist Party on Population Policy (1984)
Appendix E: The Heidelberg Manifesto (1982)
References
Index