Family Structure and Fertility

Ramu analyses the relationship between changing family structure and fertility patterns in an Indian city. He shows that fertility decisions are made not only in relation to the couple's own marital and familial aspirations, but also with regard to the social environment in which the children are raised.

Most of the couples in the study were decisively in favour of small families, defining large ones as a source of potential strain for themselves and their children. This suggests that the values governing the size of families are being redefined and will eventually have an impact on population growth.