Variations in Patterns of Low Fertility in South Korea in 2004
VARIATIONS IN PATTERNS OF LOW FERTILITY IN SOUTH KOREA IN 2004: A COUNTY LEVEL ANALYSIS A Thesis by JUNGWON YOON Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE August 2006 Major Subject: Sociology VARIATIONS IN PATTERNS OF LOW FERTILITY IN SOUTH KOREA IN 2004: A COUNTY LEVEL ANALYSIS A Thesis by JUNGWON YOON Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Approved by: Chair of Committee, Dudley L. Poston, Jr. Committee Members, Alex McIntosh Don E. Albrecht Head of Department, Mark Fossett August 2006 Major Subject: Sociology iii ABSTRACT Variations in Patterns of Low Fertility in South Korea in 2004: A County Level Analysis. (August 2006) Jungwon Yoon, B.A., Soongsil University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Dudley L. Poston, Jr. Since the early 1960s, South Korea has been going through a rapid fertility decline, along with its socioeconomic development and effective family planning programs. After achieving a desired replacement level of fertility in 1984, the total fertility rate (TFR) of Korea has gradually declined to the level of lowest-low fertility. According to 2004 vital statistics, the TFR for Korea was 1.16—below the lowest-low fertility level of 1.3. Also, Korea’s fertility rates have fluctuated and varied spatially, even at the level of low fertility. Undoubtedly, Korean family planning programs have been effective in population control through the last 40 years, but since 2000, the shift to pro-natal policies indicates that Korea’s fertility transition is no longer a response to family planning policies.
[Show full text]