Agricultural organization and fertility: A comparison of two Philippine Frontier communities

Abstract

The effect of agricultural organization on fertility is examined by a cross‐sectional analysis of data from two rural Philippine communities. Largely settled after World War II, both communities began traditional subsistence farming. Over time one community has turned to commercial farming. Contrary to expectations, no substantial differences between the two communities are found in fertility levels or in the relationship between socioeconomic status and fertility. Status is negatively related to fertility in both communities, and most of its effect is through age at marriage. In the community which has developed commercial agriculture, status affects fertility after marriage, but then only slightly.