Most explanations of fertility change in preindustrial England empha
size changes in age at marriage. This paper shows that, even after correcting for
possible exaggerations in estimated celibacy rates, it was celibacy and not age at
marriage that accounted for most of fertility variation before 1750. New research
and new models of marriage behavior are needed. It may be necessary to abandon
homeostasis to arrive at an adequate explanation of English fertility history.
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