Canadian fertility trends: a further test of the Easterlin Hypothesis

Selon Richard Easterlin, le taux de fertilite d'une cohorte est inversement proportionnel a sa taille relative. C'est principalement aux Etats-Unis qu'on a trouve des donnees
peut-itre pas a ce pays. En general, il semble qu'au Canada les taux de fertilite relatifs de grosses cohortes sont plus Pleves que ceux de cohortes plus petites, et ceci malgre le fait que les taux de fertilite ont diminue pour toutes les cohortes au cours des dernieres annees. Lorsque I'on examine la taille relative des cohortes en contrdant les effets d'ige et de periode, la relation entre la taille de la cohorte et son taux de fertilitP disparait completernent ce qui reduit plus encore la validite de I'hypothPse de Easterlin
Richard Easterlin has argued that the fertility rate of a cohort is inversely related to the relative size of that cohort. Evidence to support this proposition has been derived primarily from studies in the United States. A breakdown of Canadian fertility trends to decompose age, period and cohort effects suggests that Easterlin's hypothesis may not hold for the Canadian situation. Overall, larger Canadian cohorts appear to have higher relative fertility rates than do smaller cohorts, despite the fact that fertility rates have declined across all cohorts in recent years. Focusing on relative cohort size, and controlling for age and period effects, the relationship between cohort size and fertility disappears completely further minimizing the validity of the Easterlin Hypothesis. supportant cette these. Une analyse de la fertilite au Canada, qui distingue entre les effets d'ige, de periode et de cohorte indique que I'hypothese de Easterlin ne s'applique     

Alternative Views of Science in Intra-Professional Conflict: General Practitioners and the Medical and Surgical Elite 1815–58

Abstract Acute and protracted intra-professional conflict was a dominant feature of the period of medical reform. The traditional tripartite professional structure of physicians, surgeons and apothecaries was breaking down, evolving into a bipartite division between elite hospital consultants and general practitioners. The paper explores the hypothesis that rival professional interests were expressed in the different configurations of knowledge on which competing claims to status and authority were based. Where the elite either held aloof or invoked the civilised 'gentlemanly' science of John Hunter, the general practitioner was more disposed to embrace the more radical 'democratic' sciences such as phrenology and the new morphology.     

Values, Political Knowledge, and Public Opinion about Gay Rights: A Framing-Based Account

This study examines how political knowledge has shaped the effectsof two values–97) showed that the implications of moraltraditionalism were virtually undisputed in this debate, whereasboth sides laid claim to egalitarianism. Analysis of AmericanNational Election Studies survey data demonstrated that in 1992and 1996 the impact of moral traditionalism on public opiniongrew stronger as political knowledge increased, whereas theimpact of egalitarianism did not vary across levels of knowledge.Thus, the results suggest that the extent to which politicalknowledge moderates a value's effect on opinion can depend onwhether public debate provides an undisputed frame or competingframes for that value. One could, in turn, frame the implicationsof this finding for democratic politics in more than one way.     

THE POLITICALLY OPTIMAL TARIFF: LEVELS OF TRADE RESTRICTIONS ACROSS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

The degree to which countries restrain international trade varies significantly. This paper explains the pattern of tariff and non-tariff trade barriers for developed countries, in the context of politically optimal redistribution. The degree of trade restriction across countries is shown to be determined by differences in such factors as per capita income, the size of the government, and the size of the country.     

SHOPPING HOURS AND PRICE LEVELS IN THE RETAILING INDUSTRY: A THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

We explore the effect of extended shopping hours on the demand faced by small and large stores and on their prices. Our theoretical model predicts that prices at large stores will increase after opening hours are deregulated. We then test this prediction using a set of Quebec data collected before and after the deregulation of opening hours in July 1990. The results support our view that prices have increased at large stores since deregulation and that consumers pay for greater shopping flexibility.