title: Toward a social justice theory of demographic transition: lessons from India's Kerala State.
abstract: Recent research evidence, which suggests that observed demographic trends and patterns are largely consequences of broad structural changes in society, has raised serious doubts about the validity of traditional demographic theory and the framework for action it has generated.  This theoretical essay 1st recasts classical demographic transition theory in general systems terms in order to make it consistent with the evidence and to place the processes of fertility and mortality in a larger social context.  The demographic transition experience of Kerala State, India is then recounted to provide a concrete example of the demographic response in society to structural reforms based primarily on equity considerations.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ratcliffe
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D001519:Behavior; D001723:Birth Rate; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003710:Demography; D003906:Developing Countries; D004467:Economics; D004522:Educational Status; D004526:Efficiency; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005298:Fertility; D007182:Income; D007194:India; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D008393:Marriage; D009026:Mortality; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011057:Politics; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011640:Public Policy; D012067:Religion; D012106:Research; D012107:Research Design; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012939:Social Planning; D012942:Social Sciences; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive
keywords: Asia; Behavior; Birth Rate; Contraceptive Usage; Demographic Factors; Demographic Transition; Demography; Developing Countries; Development Planning; Development Policy; Economic Development; Economic Factors; Educational Status; Family And Household; Family Characteristics; Fertility; Fertility Measurements; Fertility Rate; Income; India; Infant Mortality; Legislation--changes; Macroeconomic Factors; Marriage; Marriage Age; Marriage Patterns; Measurement; Mortality; Nuptiality; Nutrition; Policy; Political Factors; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Dynamics; Population Theory; Productivity; Religion; Reproductive Behavior; Research Methodology; Social Sciences; Socioeconomic Factors; Southern Asia; Sterilization, Sexual