2l6Section III.M. L. March.
II.
The previous observations confirm, although not entirely, those which
have often been made on the relation between fertility and social status.
The latter being the joint product of income and of education, it is among
the richest and most highly educated classes that the number of the children
should be most restricted. On the other hand, fertility should be highest
in the poorest surroundings where the manner of life is the roughest(i).
Although this statement is, in a general way, largely true, as shown by a
comparison of the different quarters of cities and of different classes grouped
according to external indications of income, it is necessary to consider
how it should be limited or qualified. There is no doubt, for example,
that employers are, in general, wealthier than their employés, yet they have
more children than the latter. On the other hand, employés generally
receive higher pay than workmen, but have sensibly fewer children ; it is
true that their social conditions are different.
The question has been often examined ; it is important enough to war
rant further examination in the light of freshly ascertained facts.
We will borrow the fresh evidence contained in the statistics prepared
recently in France from schedules of families filled in in 1907 by a large
number of employés and workmen in the pay of the State and of various
provinces and parishes(2).
These persons have been classed according to their actual annual emolu
ments, and taking into account only marriages which have lasted more than
15 yearsthe numbers of childrenborn in every 100familieshavebeen
calculatedand are given below :—
AnnualLess 20 4060100160240More
Emolumentsthan to tototototothanTotals.
in £.20 40 60100160240400400
Duration of Marriage,I5'25years.
Employés... 277 241 259245223231229238237
Workmen... 329 321 293280254234——307
Duration of Marriage, 25yearsand more.
Employés... 330 301 305280264264261286285
Workmen• •• 348 363 346329305240—-—38S
If all classes are included together the numbers agree with those obtained
from the general census for workmen and lower officials in the public
services. (1) See particularly the investigation made in the Great Ormond Street Hos
pital, London. (Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, May, 1911, and April,
1912.) (2) Conseil Supérieur de Statistique, Bulletins 10 and n. Statistique Générale
de la France.—Statistique des Familles en 1906.
