ILLEGITIMATE FERTILITY DECLINE IN ENGLAND, 1851-1911

This study attempts to determine the extent to which several hypothese s are able to account for the illegitimate fertility decline in Englan d in the second half of the nineteenth century. The results of a poole d time-series analysis are consistent with the hypothesis that arise i n working-class prosperity accounts for much of the decline. Additiona l reasons for the decline, which cannot be ruled out with the data use d in the analysis, include the diffusion of knowledge and acceptabilit y of contraceptive methods and a decline in agricultural employment.