ABSTRACT. The main objective of this paper is to explore and describe the social and demographic contexts of Neolithic lifeways, the interrelationships between settlement practices and demographic increases, the change in family strategies that characterizes the demographic transition, and the global differential in demographic growth between poor and rich countries. The mainstay of the paper is formed by an analysis of the diffusion of demographic transition in Israel, demographic transitions in Western democracies, the role of human capital in economic growth, and changes in fertility pattern stemming from increased rate of return to human capital investment. pp. 137–142

Keywords: demographic transition, economic performance, population growth