Conventional Explanations of Changes in Fertility: Mortality decline has meant that most children survive, so that families do not need to have large numbers o

Conventional Explanations of Changes in Fertility: Mortality decline has meant that most children survive, so that families do not need to have large numbers of children to ensure one or two survivors. In addition, in modern, urban, industrial society, children have turned from being an asset to constituting a financial liability. Children cost more to raise and support in cities, child labour is not acceptable, and public education is common and required. As a result, the period that children need to be supported before becoming independent is long, resulting in high costs for families. As incomes improved, many families began to emphasize quality over quantity http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/mar1298.htm http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/mar1298.htm