The urgent demographic situation has led to an acute awareness of the necessity of far-reaching decisions to strengthen the family and implement radical measures of family policy. Many experts are talking about the crisis of the institution of the family, about the loss of the importance of family values among a substantial portion of Russians,…

Examines data on marriage, childbearing, divorce, educational attainment, and income level among young Blacks. Suggests that the phenomenon of early marriage among Blacks is widespread and merits more attention than it currently receives. (Author/MJL)

Presents an account of some important developments that concern the family in Sweden since the beginning of the 1960s. Interprets data from the Swedish fertility survey conducted by Statistics Sweden in 1981 and official statistics for later years. Contends that the young nonmarital cohabitation that has emerged should be seen as a phenomenon…

Notes that significant changes have occurred in recent times to the structure and dynamics of family life in Britain. Examines trends and issues related to marriage, cohabitation, fertility, extramarital births, divorce, one-parent families, remarriage and stepfamilies, children in families, employment, and the future of social policy in Britain.…

Discusses the tradition of the Italian family and changes in family life since World War II. Examines socioeconomic differentiation and family forms; family structure and kinship networks; social policies and family solidarity; stability and family dissolution; and innovative processes in family life. Concludes that there is a profound change in…

Describes the increase in nonmarital childbearing in the United States in the past 50 years. Considers age differences in nonmarital childbearing and the disproportionate numbers of poorly educated unmarried mothers. Maintains that changes in sexual behavior of unmarried people and declines in marriages of unmarried pregnant women contributed to…