THE CAUSES OF THE DECLINING BIRTH RATE 173 



Birth restriction probably would have been much more com- 

 mon in past times had our ancestors the knowledge on the subject 

 that is in the possession of most well-informed persons at the pres- 

 ent time. But aside from this circumstance, there is, for several 

 reasons, a greater temptation to Hmit the family than there was in 

 times past. Our changing modes of Hfe make children less desir- 

 able. In most places they are no longer an economic asset. In 

 fact they are becoming an increasing financial burden. Stand- 

 ards of living are being raised. There is an increased demand on 

 the part of women for more leisure and a respite from the burdens 

 which a large family imposes. The desire for luxury and social 

 pleasures leads many a married women to choose a childless life, 

 or to be content with but one or two children. And there is the 

 desire to climb higher on the social ladder (the capillarite sociale 

 of Dumont) which is not so easily accomplished with children 

 hanging about the skirts. 



A common reason given for not having more children is the 

 inadequacy of the family income. Those responding to the 

 questionnaire sent out by Mr. Webb stated that the causes that 

 led to family limitation were mainly economic. A similar ques- 

 tionnaire distributed by Major Greenwood elicited the reasons for 

 family restriction as follows: economic, 130; health, 90; doubtful, 

 69. Undoubtedly there are many married couples who would 

 have more children if they had more means to support them. 

 But, as a rule, wealth is no sooner acquired than standards of 

 living are raised and a desire for luxuries increased. The acquisi- 

 tion of wealth, far from creating an increased sense of racial obli- 

 gation, engenders in most people the conviction that they are 

 legitimately entitled to shift to other shoulders all functions that 

 require a sacrifice of egoistic pleasures. 



There is doubtless a primary tendency among human beings, as 

 there is among the lower animals, to respond to increased means 

 of support by an enhanced birth rate. In periods of prosperity 

 there are more marriages and hence a greater tendency to produce 

 children. But the contention of Cauderlier that prosperity in 

 general increases the birth rate is contradicted by a number of 



