The Future of Low Birthrate Populations Book

	List of figures
	List of tables
	Foreword
	Preface
1	The Demographic Situation	1
	The European share of the total	1
	Recent trends in the fertility of low-fertility populations	2
	Future population size and age structure	5
	Older age structures	9
	Sex ratios	11
	Geographic distribution of the aged	12
2	The Future of Fertility and Mortality	15
	The rate of progression to numerical declines and older age structures	15
	The extent of demographic 'deterioration'	18
3	The Challenge of Numerical Decline and Older Age Structure: Part 1. Finances and the Provision of Care	36
	Introduction	36
	Finances	37
	The provision of personal care	71
4	The Challenge of Numerical Decline and Older Age Structure: Part 2. Households, Labor Force, Economic Conditions and Behavior	84
	Introduction	84
	Family and household composition	85
	The labor force	87
	Economic conditions	91
	Behavior and politics	94
5	Policy Alternatives: Demographic	104
	Introduction	104
	Changing the demographic situation	106
	Conclusion	117
6	Some Compensations in the Trend Toward Older Age Structures and Numerical Declines	120
	Introduction	120
	The optimum population	121
	Natural limits	126
	Environmental implications of consumption patterns	131
	Discussion	139
	Conclusion	140
7	Policy Alternatives: Nondemographic	143
	Introduction	143
	Changing the social and physical setting	145
	Conclusion	173
8	Conclusion	178
	Index	180