List of Tables and Figures
Preface

1 The Nature of Population Decline

The Recurrent Fear of Population Decline

Images and Terminologies

The Demography of Population Decline

The Basic Population Equation

Measurements of Fertility, Mortality, and Growth

How a Population Ages

The Momentum of Population Growth

Population Projections

Period versus Cohort Rates

2 Demography and International Politics, 1870-1945

Introduction

The European Demographic Transition

Strategic Demography, 1870-1914

The French Connection

The British Connection

Strategic Demography, 1914-1945

European Security

Imperial Power

Communism

3 Demography and Internal Politics, 1870-1945

The Eugenic Approach to Population Decline

Positive Eugenics

Negative Eugenics

Social Democracy and Population Decline

4 Population Dynamics and Policies, 1945-1964

Political and Economic Change after the Second World War

The Baby Boom

The Resurgence of Fertility

Interpretations of the Baby Boom

Policy Developments in the Postwar Years

5 Fertility and Population Growth, 1965-1984

The Decline of Fertility since the Mid-1960s

Contrasting Developments in the Third World: The "Population Explosion"

Trends in International Migration

Political and Ideological Movements

The Environmental Movement

The Abortion Reform and Feminist Movements

The Pro-Life or Right-to-Life Movements

Trends in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union

The Soviet Union

Romania

Other Eastern European Countries

6 Policy Implications and Responses, 1965-1984

Introduction

General Policy Implications

Age Structure and Public Policy

Demographic and Economic Significance of Immigration

Changing Population Composition with Low Fertility and Substantial Immigration

Political Responses to Demographic Changes since 1965

Efforts to Reverse Declining Fertility

Effort to Adapt to Low Fertility Trends

The Politics of Population in France and West Germany since 1965

France

West Germany

7 Conclusions

Alarums and Excursions

Perceptual Distortions Based on Historical Experience

Misinterpretations of Population Projections

Ideological Elements in the Fear of Population Decline

Demographic Differentials, Both International and Internal

Economic and Social Welfare Elements in the Fear of Population Decline

Keynesian Economics and Population Growth

International Politics and Pronatalism

Projections of Plausible Futures

Policy Responses to Fears of Population Decline

Policies Affecting Fertility and Population Growth

Policies Affecting Retirement Benefits

Appendices

Appendix A: Total Fertility Rates, 1920-1983

Appendix B: European Economic Community Resolution on Measures to Promote Population Growth (1984)

Appendix C: U.S. Policy Statement at the United Nations International Conference on Population (1984)

Introduction

Policy Objectives

Population, Development, and Economic Policies

Health and Humanitarian Concerns

Technology as a Key to Development

Appendix D: Resolution by Romanian Communist Party on Population Policy (1984)

Appendix E: The Heidelberg Manifesto (1982)

References

Index

The Fear of Population Decline provides an elaborated discussion on the concept of population decline. The book is comprised of seven chapters that show the extent to which demographic developments form a part of a much longer continuum of discussion and behavior.

In the opening chapter, the book discusses the nature of population decline, and then proceeds to demonstrate the complex ways in which fears of population decline emerged in the period 1870-1945. Chapter 4 details the advancement in the period 1945-1965, while Chapters 5 and 6 discuss the phenomenon of baby bust and policy responses to it. The last chapter talks about the nature and possible dangers of population decline.

The text will be of great interest to readers who are concerned with the implication of population decline for the society as a whole.