The production of children or child-bearing in any society is a biological function shaped by various cultural practices. The number of surviving children a household would have it fertility is not deliberately controlled, is the potential output of children (Cn).
Potential output of children is a product of a couple’s natural fertility (N) (fertility in the absence of deliberate control) and the survival rate, i.e., probability of a new-born baby surviving up to adulthood.
Natural fertility is determined by biological and cultural factors. Increase in a couple’s natural fertility and improvement in the chances of child survival would increase the potential supply of children.
Motivation for Fertility Regulation = Cn – Cd
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The demand for surviving children and the supply of children (potential output of surviving children) together determine the motivation of fertility regulation.
If the potential output is smaller than demand, i.e., Cn is less than Cd (Cn < Cd), there is no desire to limit fertility. Such a situation of ‘excess demand’ would call for ways and means to increase fertility.
On the other hand, if the potential output of surviving children is larger than the demand for surviving children, i.e., Cn is greater than Cd (Cn>Cd), this could be considered as a situation of ‘excess supply’. In an ‘excess supply’ situation, parents would be faced with the prospect of having unwanted children.
If this excess is larger, the potential burden of unwanted children would be greater and hence as a consequence the household’s motivation to limit its family size is also greater. In an excess supply situation there is a demand for ways of limiting fertility.