FERTILITY CONTROL DUE TO SHORT-TERM ECONOMIC STRESS IN RURAL ARAGÓN (SPAIN), 1801–1909

This paper deals with the permanent existence of deliberate fertility control arising from short-term economic stress among rural farm workers. The micro-level analysis uses the family reconstitution method for ten rural Spanish localities. The husband's socio-economic level is regarded as an i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista de historia económica 2021-03, Vol.39 (1), p.129-155
Main Author: Marco-Gracia, Francisco J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
19th century
Articles/Artículos
Demography
Economic shock
Economic stress
Farmworkers
Fertility
Human agency
Hypotheses
Malnutrition
Mortality
Population
Prices
Rural areas
Short term
Socioeconomic factors
Socioeconomic status
Standard of living
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Summary:This paper deals with the permanent existence of deliberate fertility control arising from short-term economic stress among rural farm workers. The micro-level analysis uses the family reconstitution method for ten rural Spanish localities. The husband's socio-economic level is regarded as an indicator of the family's socio-economic status. According to the available data, human agency between 1801 and 1909 resulted in a negative fertility response among all farm groups, with this negative response being especially strong among the landless and semi-landless. The existence of a rapid fertility control response suggests that such control was a voluntary decision. Since the end of the 19th century, the number of economic shocks due to high prices has reduced.
ISSN:0212-6109
2041-3335
DOI:10.1017/S0212610919000144