KINSHIP NETWORK, DIRECT CHILD-CARE, AND FERTILITY AMONG HUNGARIANS AND GYPSIES

This study is based on fieldwork that was conducted in a Gypsy and a H ungarian non-Gypsy population. The main goal of our study was to exami ne the primary factors having the largest impact on Gypsy fertility. C ontrary to widespread views based mainly on anecdotal evidence-level o f education, occupational status, or use of contraceptive pills does n ot seem to have a profound influence on the number of births. In fact, the evidence suggests that the extensiveness of kinship networks and the degree of the relatives' assistance with childcare are most strong ly predictive of fertility in the Gypsy population. Our data proved to be highly supportive of the evolutionary hypothesis that personal ser vices through kinship networks are particularly valuable resources, ac counting for the higher fertility in more traditional societies compar ed to technologically more advanced ones. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science In c.