The Demographic Transition: Stages, Patterns, and Economic Implications - Hardcover

Chesnais, Jean-Claude

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198286597 ISBN 13: 9780198286592

Publisher: Clarendon Press, 1992

Synopsis

Demographic transition constitutes one of the most fundamental modern historical changes; people live much longer, have fewer children, and experience higher mobility. This book examines the basic mechanisms behind the modernisation of demographic behaviour. The author has marshalled an impressive array of statistical material relating to sixty-seven countries, half of them less developed countries. Most of the tables are time-series, covering many decades and sometimes go back to the nineteenth, and even eighteenth centuries. The whole sweep of western experience is dealt with here impartially. Though technically sophisticated, the book also covers issues of interpretation and analysis. The author puts forward a number of challenging propositions: mortality decrease is shown to necessarily precede fertility and decline, so-called execptions being simply false exceptions. He shows how the decline of fertility is dependent on important and manifold social transformations. The strong connections between international migration and the course of demographic transition are demonstrated, as is the fact that less developed countries are following the same general patterns as MDCs. There is also discussion of why the theory of demographic transition must include the effect of population changes on the economic progress of society.

About this title

Product Description

This book examines the basic mechanisms behind the modernization of demographic behaviour. The author has marshalled an impressive amount of statistical material relating to 67 countries, half of them less developed, and covering the period 1720-1984. The whole sweep of western demographic experience is dealt with comprehensively and impartially, and though technically sophisticated, the book also covers issues of interpretation and analysis. The author shows how mortality decrease necessarily precedes fertility decline and how so-called exceptions are simply false exceptions; how the decline of fertility is dependent on important and manifold social transformations; and reveals the strong connections between international migration and the course of demographic transition. Chesnais demonstrates that less developed countries are following the same general patterns as MDCs and argues that the theory of demographic transition must include the effect of population changes on the economic progress of society.

Review

`elegantly translated by Elizabeth and Philip Kreager ... the verdict on The Demographic Transition must be that it is an impressive landmark on the road to an uncertain destination ... Chesnais' Demographic Transition is an impressive achievement which will form an invaluable work of reference'John Landers, Times Literary Supplement

`The assembly of data for 67 populations, including many 1dc's, is clearly a valuable contribution ... This book will be useful as a reference volume and a supplementary text on a central subject in the study of population. Its translation into English is very welcome.'European Journal of Population

'It is difficult to overstate the value of this massively documented and intellectually challenging book ... His emphasis on the need to reconstruct the routes of cultural diffusion as an aid to understanding the geography of the transition is likely to prove particularly rewarding. Chesnais provides a powerful and seemingly persuasive counter to those who see rapid population growth as a more or less persistent force for ill.'N.L. Tranter, University of Stirling, Economic History Society 1995

Has been translated very successfully from French ... where data are available, it provides rich time series data on the trends it covers ... It is certainly a rich source and will retain this reference status for many years to come ... This is an impressive work. (The Economic Journal)

It has been translated very successfully from French...where data are available, it provides rich time series data on the trends it covers. It is certainly a rich source and will retain this reference status for many years to come. This is an impressive work. (The Economic Journal)

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarendon Press
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0198286597
• ISBN 13: 9780198286592
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 646