A Comparative Study of Costa Rica and Mexico

Abstract

Why, when and how fertility rates will begin to decline in the Third World countries, and how quickly this final stage of demographic transition will come about, are unknown quantities of outstanding worldwide significance, from both the scientific and political points of view. Hence, in-depth studies of the countries which in recent years have shown a marked reduction in their rates of population growth will be useful for attaining a global understanding of these complex processes and acquiring knowledge for formulation of more efficacious population policies, designed to induce and regulate demographic transition.

This paper is based on the results of an earlier joint paper prepared by the authors for the ILO while working in CELADE; see Uthoff and González (1976).