Poverty and the Birth-rate
No doubt there are more reasons than one for family limitati and the consequent fall in the birth-rate, but there is eviden which favours the view that economic considerations play an portant part. The Registrar-General's statistical review of Engl. and Wales for 1938, which has just been published, contains analysis of new information about the fertility of women. It appe• that married fertility has declined since 192x by about one-fifth ages 20-24, the fall increasing with age to about two-thirds at ag 4o-44—a fact which suggests, according to the report, " that motive of family limitation after the birth of one or two childr has been an important factor." It should be borne in mind that means of birth-control existed at the earlier age no less than at older age. A similar conclusion is drawn from the fact that wiv in their eighth year of marriage were bearing children at only abo half the rate of wives of the same age in their second or th• year of marriage. A remarkable increase which occurred in number of marriages of young women during the last war is pa accounted for by " the incentive to marriage provided by allowanc for wives of men joining the services." The evidence is not ab lutely conclusive, but it certainly points to the fact that lack means is a strong deterrent to marriage, in the first place, and having children for those who are married. The case for fam allowances, strong enough already, is greatly strengthened by su' facts as these. There may be other means necessary to safega• the population, but it is certain that decline will not be averted long as poverty dogs the steps of parents who have children.
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