Demographic transition (DT) refers to the transition from high birth and death rates to lower birth and death rates as a country or region develops from a pre-industrial to an industrialized economic system. IT IS GIVEN BY: FrankW. Notestein. Frank Wallace Notestein (August 16, 1902 – February 19, 1983) The demographic transition theory is a generalized description of the changing pattern of mortality, fertility and growth rates as societies move from one demographic regime to another.