Economic Evolution And Peasant Movements In Belgium At The End Of The 18Th Century: Taking the demographic evolution as a key variable it can be said that from 1740 onward the rate of increase of the population was higher than in the previous part of the century. Two major differences in the demographic evolution can be observed .- first of all the rate of increase is higher for Flanders than for Wallony; secondly the less fertile areas experience a higher rate of increase than the more fertile and hence, more agricultural areas.