Regional Differences in Family Size: The Case of the Atlantic Provinces in Canada.

Data from the 1971 Public Use Sample Tapes based on the 1971 Census are analyzed to examine the relationship between regional background and fertility in the Atlantic region and the test of Canada. Two explanations are discussed and tested for their relevance in explaining the above average fertility level in the eastern provinces. The results provide support for (1) the characteristic-assimilation proposition and (2) the regional-culture effect hypothesis. Standardization of social demographic variable differences (as a proxy for assimilation to the rest of Canada) results in a lowering of average family size among Atlantic females; however, the main effect of region is positive and stronger in magnitude. Possible sources of a regional-culture effect are discussed with reference to the social science literature concerning the Atlantic provinces. In a later section of the paper the association between the carry-over influence of region on fertility among outmigrants from this area of Canada is investigated. The findings indicate that outmigrants constitute a select group who have below average fertility in relation to Atlantic non-movers. Thus, the positive regional-culture effect is only of relevance to the indigenous nonmigrant population in the eastern region and has no carry-over influences among persons who leave this locality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]