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Fertility and Culture in Eastern Europe: A Case Study of Riga, Latvia, 1867–1881

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  • Charles Wetherell

    (University of California, Riverside)

  • Andrejs Plakans

    (Iowa State University)

Abstract

Recent research on the secular decline of fertility in historical Europe has focused on cultural explanations in the wake of the European Fertility Project's failure to confirm demographic transition theory. Using the city of Riga in present-day Latvia as a case study, the essay provides initial estimates of nuptiality and fertility for resident language and religious groups in 1867 and 1881, and reviews the prospects of future work. Despite obstacles, Eastern Europe offers researchers an exceptional opportunity to test major cultural and economic hypotheses about the fertility decline because sustained ethnic diversity coexisted with economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles Wetherell & Andrejs Plakans, 1997. "Fertility and Culture in Eastern Europe: A Case Study of Riga, Latvia, 1867–1881," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 13(3), pages 243-268, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eurpop:v:13:y:1997:i:3:d:10.1023_a:1005966907806
    DOI: 10.1023/A:1005966907806
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Martin Klesment & Hannaliis Jaadla & Mark Gortfelder, 2020. "Educational heterogamy during the early phase of the educational expansion: Results from the university town of Tartu, Estonia in the late 19th century," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(13), pages 329-364.
    3. Jan M. Hoem & Lesia Nedoluzhko, 2008. "Marriage formation as a process intermediary between migration and childbearing," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 18(21), pages 611-628.
    4. Jan M. Hoem & Lesia Nedoluzhko, 2008. "Marriage formation as a process intermediary between migration and childbearing," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2008-015, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.

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