Family Limitation and the English Demographic Revolution: A Simulation Approach

Abstract

This seeks to examine the thesis of family limitation in pre-industrial England proposed by E. A. Wrigley on the basis of birth intervals evidence in his famous 1966 paper, “Family Limitation in Pre-industrial England.” A simulation model of a stochastic reproductive system is used to investigate the possible effects of a variety offerees acting on birth intervals. It is argued that although the Wrigley hypothesis remains plausible it is likely that he has exaggerated the role of birth control.