ABSTRACT
The past demographic transition took place in all of the currently industrialized countries, and the same broad pattern, with somewhat varying rates of change, occurred in all the industrialized countries. The present transition starts from higher levels of mortality and fertility, and mortality declines come much more rapidly, leading to growth rates of 3 percent and more. Past declines in mortality and fertility took place with almost no important technological advances in medicine. Past fertility transitions took place in countries where governments were often pro-natalist, and openly hostile to proponents of birth control. Present transitions are taking place under governments that promote fertility limitation within marriage to limit rates of population growth. Countries with a strong commitment to economic development tend to have strong policies. Population growth has been one element of this environmental destruction, both past and present. The more gradual changes of the past probably permitted easier adjustment to the radical changes.
