Recent trends in fertility in Belgium are described. The author notes that fertility levels reached a peak in 1964 and have been declining since. Reasons for the decline are discussed, including changes in marriage patterns and a decline in the number of births, particularly those of third or higher order. The emergence of an individual, rather than a collective, concept of family life and the diffusion of modern contraceptive practices among young couples are also seen as major contributory factors. (summary in ENG)
Future prospects for the populations of four major towns of French-speaking Belgium, Charleroi, Liege, Mons, and Namur, up to the year 2001 are reviewed. Particular consideration is given to likely changes in the age distribution of the population. The authors note that all of the six scenarios considered project both a decline in population and an aging of the population. (summary in ENG)
The effect on infant mortality of insurance policies taken out on the life of a child in Belgium and France at the beginning of the twentieth century is examined. These policies covered not only burial costs but provided a sum of money to the parents or third party taking out the policy and were considered by many to be an inducement to poor people to allow sick children to die. The author notes that such policies were prohibited in France after 1905 and in Belgium after 1907. (summary in ENG)
The author describes the historical demographic data bases developed in Umea, Sweden, and elsewhere in the Scandinavian countries and their use for the purposes of demographic research and social history. The possibility of developing similar projects in Belgium, which has numerous population registers, is also explored. (summary in ENG)
