Observers of the Third World have been surprised in recent years by the dramatic declines in both birth and death rates in many developing countries. These phenomena have occurred on a vast scale in India. Although demographers are familiar with the broad outlines of what has happened there, they still know very little of the causes of these changes. Now, John C. Caldwell, P. H. Reddy, and Pat Caldwell present the results of their long investigation in rural South India, revealing critical social and political changes that will be of interest and value to all demographers, sociologists, planners, and other social scientists. The investigation, centering around the changes that the rural population is effecting in order to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by a global economy and society, has broad and profound implications for all Third World peoples and societies.