Availability of Kin and the Demography of Historical Family Structure

The author proposes a strategy for estimating influence of demographic factors on frequency of extended families and applies this strategy to demographic experience of West during past two centuries. A simulation model previously developed by author is used to estimate availability of kin under certain demographic conditions and to calculate residential propensities. A standard propensities approach to analyzing interaction of demography and family structure is described. The geographic focus is on United States and England. The author concludes that the demographic conditions prevailing since end of nineteenth century have been highly favorable to formation of extended families. By contrast frequency of available extended kin was substantially lower in pre-industrial England. We may be fairly confident that demographic change was a necessary condition for rise of extended family in nineteenth century. (EXCERPT)