Population, Food Intake, and Fertility

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Abstract
Historical data are given for fertility and family size in Britain in the 19th century. These data support the hypothesis that a short and less efficient reproductive span due to poor nutrition, hard physical work and poor living conditions may be an explanation of the relatively small family size of the lower socioeconomic classes in 1850-1860 in Britain. Questions are raised as to the role of undernourishment, leading to lower fecundity, as an ecological adaptation to reduced food supply.