Comparing demographic trends in Europe and the NAME-region (North Africa and the Middle East), this book demonstrates how population change interacts with changing economic landscapes, social distinctions and political realities.

Contents: Introduction, Koenraad Matthijs, Karel Neels, Christiane Timmerman, Jacques Haers and Sara Mels. Part I Population Change in Europe: Demographic transitions in Europe and the world, Frans Willekens; Economic conditions and variation in first birth hazards in 22 European countries between 1970 and 2005, Jonas Wood, Jorik Vergauwen and Karel Neels; Decreasing fertility in Europe: is it a policy issue?, Olivier Thevenon. Part II Demographic Change in the NAME Region: The demographic transition in the Arab world: the dual role of marriage in family dynamics and population growth, Paul Puschmann and Koen Matthijs; Who's next? Age structure and the prospects of democracy and conflict in North Africa and the Middle East, Richard Cincotta; Does demographic revolution lead to democratic revolution? The case of North Africa and the Middle East, Youssef Courbage and Paul Puschmann. Part III Pathways for Policy: Ageing and fiscal sustainability in the European Union, Marga Peeters and Loek Groot; Is a rise in employment always positive from a social perspective? A household dimension of the precarious labour market integration of immigrants in Belgium, Vincent Corluy and Gerlinde Verbist; International migration: the future challenges for Europe, Ronald Skeldon. Index.