This report surveys the first generation of theoretical and empirical research on the determinants of parent "demand" for children. A large fraction of this literature was first published as Rand reports and papers. The pragmatic question discussed here is the strengths and shortcomings of the state of the art in economic analysis of…

This research report examines the components of modernity that deal with women's roles and values and their impact on fertility rates. The life style identified as modern is clearly multidimensional, yet three items -- power, segregation, and containment -- are chosen to study the fertility rates. The hypothesis is that in a family in which the…

Selected characteristics of the United States' farm population for 1973 are presented. The farm population consists of all persons living in rural territory on places of: (1) 10 or more acres if as much as $50 worth of agricultural products were sold from the place in the reporting year and (2) under 10 acres if as much as $250 worth of…

Adolescent pregnancy, especially among low income non-white groups, is becoming a matter of increasing concern. Data indicated that pregnancy in the adolescent, especially under age 16, is associated with high incidences of toxemia, anemia, contracted pelvis, prolonged labor, and a high maternal death rate. It is also the largest single reason why…

This book describes a series of studies included in a 5-year program of research on the social adjustment of school children in the third through sixth grades. The sample consists of a total of 40,000 children from Texas and Minnesota, including a small subsample of 5,000 used in a 4-year longitudinal study. Peer acceptance-rejection scores…

Some studies of early readers are discussed. It is pointed out that study of early readers has relevance for practical and theoretical issues in psychology and education. Of interest in this document are the following questions: (1) Are there any special talents or traits distinguishing early from non-early readers? (2) Do children who read early…

Past and current trends in the growth of families with two workers or more are examined in this article. It discusses such subjects as influence of trends in fertility on the growth of these families, the relation between husbands' and wives' occupations, and some of the impact of the recession and inflation on these families. Tables and…

Two studies are reported: one examines stereotypes about only children and the other examines stereotypes about mothers of only children. A sample of 150 college students were the subjects for the first study which utilized the Prisoner's Dilemma Game, the NASA exercise, and a questionnaire to test the hypotheses that only children are selfish,…

The editorial board of Forum states that, with few exceptions (immediately after the two world wars; in the period 1955-1965), the birth rate has shown a long-term decline since the late nineteenth century. This represents an unprecedented opportunity to bring about improvement in the quality of education. (KC)

A school board's dismissal of a teacher who was an unwed mother resulted in the jury granting a large award. The judge grounded the legal justification for the jury's decision in the teacher's constitutionally protected decision to bear a child, irrespective of marriage. Criticizes court's constitutional intrepretation. (MLF)

The author focuses on the relationship between the changing demographic composition and educational level of the labor force and the impact of those factors on the structural rise in unemployment. He discusses how the labor market has adjusted to the increased supply of young, well-educated workers by weakening the market for high school…

Reviews recent product-oriented outcome studies from the perspective of whether VLBW (very low birthweight) infants born since 1975 (when intensive care methods became relatively stabilized in effectiveness) show behavioral problems, intellectual impairment, linguistic or social deficits. (RWB)

Examines and explains unexpected population trends since 1970: substantial rural and small-town growth, regional shifts to the South and West, lower birth rates, increased life expectancy, smaller household size, and population growth from immigration. Illustrates how demographic events offer classic examples of the difficulty of predicting human…

Analyzes fertility information for the United States noting characteristics of counties with high and low fertility rates. Compares birth rates for rural and smalltown (nonmetro) women with urban and suburban (metro) women noting that young nonmetro women no longer intend to have families larger than those of metro women. (JHZ)

Overpopulation exists when people lack the basic means of subsistence, or when there is massive and permanent unemployment. Population problems of developing countries are examined, and causes of high rates of fertility are discussed. The utilization of productive resources in solving population problems is also examined. (RM)