title: The second demographic transition: a concise overview of its development.
abstract: This article gives a concise overview of the theoretical development of the concept of the "second demographic transition" since it was coined in 1986, its components, and its applicability, first to European populations and subsequently also to non-European societies as well. Both the demographic and the societal contrasts between the first demographic transition (FDT) and the second demographic transition (SDT) are highlighted. Then, the major criticisms of the SDT theory are outlined, and these issues are discussed in the light of the most recent developments in Europe, the United States, the Far East, and Latin America. It turns out that three major SDT patterns have developed and that these evolutions are contingent on much older systems of kinship and family organization.
authors.affiliation: Royal Flemish Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1000 Brussels, Belgium RLesthaeghe@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lesthaeghe
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D003710:Demography; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D014481:United States
keywords: cohabitation; household structure; second demographic transition; subreplacement fertility; values