NEEDED RESEARCH ON CURRENT POPULATION TRENDS

Abstract

Modern demography is criticized for its emphasis on reproductive biology and its failure to substantially incorporate the sociological determinents of fertility into attitudinal and contraceptive research. Current studies relate most to psychological theories while the prime factor in classical analysis of fertility declines in Western countries is industrialization which affords new options for social mobility and consequently motivates the more ambitious to reduce family responsibilities. Based in part on market research methods applied to a new type of consumer demand current antinatalist policy concentrates on the availability of contraceptive and family size attitudes. This family planning tactic has effectively cut fertility only where the socioeconomic environment itself generated antinatalist attitudes--e.g. a few atypical countries transitional to economic development (Taiwan South Korea Puerto Rico) and the minuscule westernized elites of the major underdeveloped countries. A crucial example is the failure of Indias 20-year program to completely reduce fertility rates. Research facilitating changes in institutional structures which would be antinatalist in effect includes the following topics: 1) illegitimate births; 2) socialization in family norms; 3) joint and nuclear family structure; 4) nonmarriage; 5) childless marriage; 6) age at marriage; 7) family subsidies; 8) antinatalist payments; 9) working wives.