Skip to main navigationSkip to main content
The University of Southampton
Social Statistics and DemographyPart of Economic, Social & Political Science

Fertility in Historical China: Recent Research Findings and Their Theoretical Implications Seminar

Origin: 
Economic, Social and Political Sciences
Time:
15:00
Date:
23 September 2014
Venue:
Building 58 Room 1009

For more information regarding this seminar, please telephone Centre for Population Change. Mel Morgan – Centre Administrator on 023280592579 or email cpc@soton.ac.uk .

Event details

Centre for Population Change seminar

It is widely accepted that fertility was high before the demographic transition because there was no deliberate fertility control in the past; and this was due to either that people did not know how to control their reproduction or that they wanted to have many children, especially sons. New research findings from recent investigation show that in Chinese history marital fertility was not very high. A considerable number of people had the intention to, and they did, control their family size, although effective contraceptives were not available. Furthermore, antinatalist ideas and suggestions were promoted by some Chinese officials and intellectuals a long time ago. This presentation summarises some major research findings made in Chinese historical demography in recent years and discusses their theoretical implications and importance for our understanding of past demographic regimes and rapid fertility transition taking place in recent history.

Speaker information

Professor Zhongwei Zhao, Australian National University. Areas of expertise: Demography 1603 Mortality 160304 Fertility 160302 Family And Household Studies 160301 Population Trends And Policies

Privacy Settings