RECENT ECONOMIC TRENDS

The gross reproduction rates for Scottish cities and counties have come much closer to each other between 1930‐32 and 1950‐52. This process has taken the form of spectacular increases in some counties with small populations and decreases by smaller amounts in cities and counties with large populations.

To a considerable extent this has been due to reductions in the differences in the proportions of married women in the reproductive age‐groups. This may be due not only to greater uniformity in marriage habits but also to less migration of single women to a few areas traditionally employing women.

Local variations in legitimate and illegitimate fertility have also diminished, but the pattern of regional differentials has persisted more than in the field of nuptiality.