104 THE LAW OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS 



an enormous increase in the proportion of old people and 

 children in the population as the result of emigration, 

 and this is somewhat dubious as a sign of that increased 

 prosperity to which Dr. Stevenson attributes the alleged 

 increased fertility. But this apparent increase appears 

 to be the result of very refined mathematical calcula- 

 tions based upon very imperfect data. Apparently more 

 complete proof is needed before much dependence can 

 be placed upon it. 



The principle implies that in comparisons between 

 different countries the wealthiest and most highly civilised 

 will have the smallest birthrates. The following table 1 

 showing the birthrates for many of the chief countries 

 of the world is by Drs. Newsholm and Stevenson, and is 

 corrected to allow for the varying numbers and ages of 

 wives in the population : 



1 The New Dictionary of Statistics, Webb. 



