Recent world fertility trends and their implications
Hama, H.
Jinko Mondai Kenkyu 140: 25-37
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0387-2793 PMID: 12261505 Document Number: 440325
High fertility levels of 40-50% have continued in major parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. During the 1970's the upward fertility trend was seen in the socialistic countries. A downward trend in European countries began in the 1960's and accelerated in the 1970's. Declining tendencies of fertility were still slow in the 1970's in some Western countries. Fertility trends reflect government policies which are divided into 7 categories: 1) family planning has been disseminated freely in Western countries; 2) birth control was realized with legalized abortion influenced by the difficulties of the postwar period (Japan); family planning is promoted by the government to restrain the rapid population increase (most Asian countries); 4) some Asian countries have adopted policies of social welfare giving privilege to lower parity children and compulsive adaptation to birth control (Singapore, India, and South Korea); 5) a high level of fertility is recognized in relation to a new economic order and shortage of labor (Latin America); 6) recovery of fertility is desireable because socialistic welfare policies have resulted in low fertility (Eastern European countries); and, 7) social reform and birth control are promoted though "overpopulation" theory is rejected (China). Categories 1 and 4 recognize birth control and 5 and 7 deny it. Political organizations of 1 to 5 differ from those of 6 and 7. (Author's Modified)