ABSTRACT
The current trend of declining fertility in developed nations has sparked debate among demographers, sociologists, and policy makers with regard to its causes, consequences, and appropriate strategies to halt the process. The chapters in this volume are part of the current debate, each approaching fertility decision making from a unique perspective. Morgan and Hagewen (this volume) outline a theoretical approach to fertility decline in developed nations by introducing the concept of “life course competition” as the source of cross-national fertility differentials. The chapters that follow are variations on this theme, examining macro-and micro-level factors that are associated with fertility behavior. This concluding commentary pulls together the major themes and assumptions underlying this volume: that the production of children in developed nations is the result of women’s rational choice, and that these choices are constrained by the context of reproduction.
