Abstract

This volume focuses on demographic and societal changes in societies experiencing low and very low fertility. In this introductory chapter I provide some demographic context for evaluating and understanding these changes. I discuss in some detail the two major theories and perspectives that best inform the demographic and social dynamics currently underway in low fertility populations. These are the classic theory of demographic transition and the theory of the second demographic transition. The book that follows this introductory chapter contains 11 chapters; four chapters deal with demographic dynamics of fertility, natural decrease, mortality, and international migration. The next four chapters deal with structural changes in societies pertaining to aging, mothering and gender, marital relationships, and marriage and cohabitation. The last three chapters deal with changing social institutions, namely, the family, the political arena, and religion. In all these chapters attention is directed to low fertility societies, and in many of them a major focus is given to the Republic of Korea. In this chapter I summarize briefly each of the chapters.

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