Il declino della fecondità nei paesi occidentali

This article illustrates the characteristics of fertility decrease in industrialized countries by a critical review of recent main theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in sociology, demography, economy, social psychology and sociobiology. In particular, the discussion is focused on the theory of demographic transition, the theory of the value of children, the perspective which considers the increasing partecipation of women to labour maket as a crucial factor in explaining fertility, so as the individual approach to fertility intentions and the genetic model of fertility behavior. If we view the italian case in the light of current scientific debate about fertility decrease in western countries, above all it should be noted the great ambivalence between tradition and modernity values. The result is that fertility choices can hardly conciliate individual intentions and social expectations.