Low Fertility, Institutions, and their Policies
Variations Across Industrialized Countries
Editors: Rindfuss, Ronald R., Choe, Minja Kim (Eds.)
Free Preview- Compares fertility trends and levels across 10 economically advanced countries in Europe and Asia
- Describes how these countries’ institutions, culture, and history shape fertility levels and patterns
- Examines existing government policies that may affect fertility, either intentionally or inadvertently, as well as public opinion about policy measures that might affect fertility
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- About this book
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This volume examines ten economically advanced countries in Europe and Asia that have experienced different levels of fertility decline. It offers readers a cross-country perspective on the causes and consequences of low birth rates and the different policy responses to this worrying trend.
The countries examined are not only diverse geographically, historically, and culturally, but also have different policies and institutions in place. They include six very-low-fertility countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Spain, and Taiwan) and four that have close to replacement-level fertility (United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, and France).
Although fertility has gone down in all these countries over the past 50 years, the chapters examine the institutional, policy, and cultural factors that have led some countries to have much lower fertility rates than others. In addition, the final chapter provides a cross-country comparison of individual perceptions about obs
tacles to fertility, based on survey data, and government support for families. This broad overview, along with a general introduction, helps put the specific country papers in context.As birth rates continue to decline, there is increasing concern about the fate of social welfare systems, including healthcare and programs for the elderly. This book will help readers to better understand the root causes of such problems with its insightful discussion on how a country’s institutions, policies, and culture shape fertility trends and levels.
- About the authors
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Ronald R. Rindfuss is a Research Professor in the Department of Sociology, Adjunct Professor in the Geography Department, and a Fellow of the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, and a Senior Fellow at the East-West Center, Honolulu, HI. He is Past President of the Population Association of America and a former Director of the Carolina Population Center. His research interests include fertility, population and the environment, migration and family demography.
Minja Kim Choe is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at East-West Center’s Research Program. Her research interests include family change, low fertility and population aging, and statistical analyses of demographic processes. - Reviews
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“Each chapter is written by a country expert who presents recent fertility trends and discusses the social, economic, institutional, historical, and cultural factors affecting fertility as well as policies. … an invaluable resource for students, researchers, and policymakers, providing comprehensive and highly informative expositions of the causes of low fertility in high income countries.” (Population and Development Review, Vol. 43 (1), March, 2017)
- Table of contents (11 chapters)
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Diverse Paths to Low and Lower Fertility: An Overview
Pages 1-11
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Not so Low Fertility in Norway—A Result of Affluence, Liberal Values, Gender-Equality Ideals, and the Welfare State
Pages 13-47
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The Influence of Family Policies on Fertility in France: Lessons from the Past and Prospects for the Future
Pages 49-76
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Fertility and Population Change in the United Kingdom
Pages 77-98
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Canadian Fertility Trends and Policies: A Story of Regional Variation
Pages 99-130
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Table of contents (11 chapters)
- Download Sample pages 2 PDF (389.6 KB)
- Download Table of contents PDF (51.1 KB)
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Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
-
- Book Title
- Low Fertility, Institutions, and their Policies
- Book Subtitle
- Variations Across Industrialized Countries
- Editors
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- Ronald R. Rindfuss
- Minja Kim Choe
- Copyright
- 2016
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing
- Copyright Holder
- Springer International Publishing Switzerland
- eBook ISBN
- 978-3-319-32997-0
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-3-319-32997-0
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-3-319-32995-6
- Softcover ISBN
- 978-3-319-81417-9
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- VIII, 303
- Number of Illustrations
- 62 illustrations in colour
- Topics
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