What is a key factor in understanding demographic transitions in developed countries?

Rapid industrialization and urbanization are critical to understanding demographic transitions in developed countries. As societies evolve from agrarian to industrial economies, significant changes occur in population dynamics. Industrialization often leads to better healthcare, improved hygiene, and better living conditions, which in turn reduce mortality rates. Urbanization typically changes lifestyles, leading to a shift in family size preferences as people move into cities for work and education.

These processes contribute to a decline in both birth and death rates, which characterizes the transition from high birth and death rates to lower rates, ultimately stabilizing population growth. In developed countries, this transformation is marked by a significant reduction in infant mortality and a greater emphasis on family planning, which further stabilizes birth rates.

Understanding this transition process helps explain how and why populations in developed nations experience demographic shifts, influencing policies related to social services, healthcare, and economic planning.

The other options do not accurately reflect key characteristics of demographic transitions in developed countries. For example, high rates of infant mortality are associated with earlier stages of demographic transitions, not the advanced stages found in developed nations. Stable birth rates throughout history and unchanging mortality rates do not capture the dynamic nature of demographic change, which is influenced by economic and social factors over time.