Low Fertility, Institutions, and their Policies

Editors: Rindfuss, Ronald R., Choe, Minja Kim (Eds.)
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

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 obstacles 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.

Number of Illustrations and Tables
62 illustrations in colour
Topics
Demography
Population Economics
Public Health
Sociology of Familiy, Youth and Aging

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