Final answer:
A decrease in the global number of children born per woman is attributed to increased access to contraception, improvements in women's education, and economic development. These factors collectively enhance women's autonomy and opportunities, leading to fewer and healthier offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of children born per woman globally has decreased due to a multitude of factors. Increased access to contraception, which allows women to have more control over their reproductive lives, is one significant factor. Additionally, improvement in women's education plays a critical role; as women become more educated, they tend to have fewer, healthier, and better-educated children. Economic research has shown that with just one additional year of schooling, a group of women will, on average, have fewer children. This education not only impacts fertility rates but also improves the overall economic prospects of a society. Finally, economic development is a major driver of reduced birth rates. As societies develop, they typically experience a demographic transition where the number of children per woman decreases. This transition includes greater job opportunities for women, reduced infant mortality rates due to modern medicine, and overall improved standards of living, leading to the empowerment of women to make educated decisions regarding family planning.