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 limit the family than there was in 
times past. Our changing modes of life 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 capillarité 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 
