Fertility decline and social change: new trends and challenges

Abstract

This article presents an overview of recent fertility declines and their effects
on social change in both industrialized and industrializing countries. The
focus is primarily on the levels and age patterns of fertility, which influence
social change through three major mechanisms, reductions in population
growth, modifications in age structure, and changes in family structure.
Some future prospects are also discussed, especially in the view of the
viability of immigration as a solution to population stability, graying of the
industrialized world, intergenerational support, and loneliness.