Family-size limitation and birth spacing: the fertility transition of African and Asian immigrants in Israel.

2 models of fertility change in the initial stages of decline are explored: 1) fertility changes occur among older women in response to changes in long-term family-size targets (stopping effects); 2) family-size changes reflect decisions at each parity level to delay or prevent the birth of the next child (spacing effects). The stopping and spacing effects are examined among Asian and African immigrants in Israel. The data show important spacing effects among these immigrants that relate mainly to socioeconomic change rather than cultural factors. -Authors