The influence of fluctuations in economic conditions on fertility and marriage rates, Australia, 1920-21 to 1937-38 and 1946-47 to 1966-67

Abstract It has been widely observed that both cross-sectionally and secularly there has been a negative relationship between income or level of living and the family size of married females. 1 At the same time the relationship between economic indicators and current fertility with a lag of one or more years over the business cycle has been found to be strongly positive. In fact the persistence of the latter relationship over a wide area and varying periods led Dr. Thomas to remark that it has been one of the most firmly based empirical findings in any of the social sciences.